XN000022-1975-09-25 — Page 2

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1975

STATEMENT ON ROOF TOP SCHOOLS

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ALL ROOF TOP SCHOOLS ARE PAYING A NOMINAL RENT OF ONE DOLLAR A MONTH, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS RECENTLY NOTIFIED ALL ORGANISATIONS, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, IN GROUP B ESTATES THAT WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1, 1976 RATES RANGING FROM $127.50 TO $459 A MONTH WILL BE CHARGED IN ADDITION TO THE NOMINAL RENT OF ONE DOLLAR.

REFERRING TO INACCURACIES IN SOME NEWSPAPER REPORTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN FACT THE ONE DOLLAR NOMINAL RENT HAD BEEN REIMBURSED IN THE PAST TO AIDED PRIMARY ROOF TOP SCHOOLS BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT UNDER THE CODE OF AID. PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH REIMBURSEMENT.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THOSE ROOF TOP SCHOOLS WHICH PROVIDE FREE EDUCATION WILL RECEIVE ADDITIONAL SUBSIDY TO COVER THE PAYMENT OF BOTH RENT AND RATES.

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NORMALLY, PRIVATE NON-PROFIT MAKING SCHOOLS WHICH ARE EXEMPT FROM PROFITS TAX UNDER THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF RATES UNDER THE RATES SUBVENTION. APPLICATIONS. FOR REIMBURSEMENT WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ON THEIR OWN MERITS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

AT PRESENT THERE ARE 105 ROOF TOP SCHOOLS, INCLUDING 17 SUBSIDIZED. MORE THAN 6,000 PUPILS ARE IN THE 17 SUBSIDIZED SCHOOLS AND ARE RECEIVING FREE EDUCATION. ABOUT 10,000 PUPILS ARE ENROLLED IN THE OTHER 88 PRIVATE PRIMARY ROOF TOP SCHOOLS WITCH CHARGE LOW FEES,

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT SUFFICIENT FREE GOVERNMENT AND AIDED PLACES IN STANDARD PRIMARY SCHOOLS WERE AVAILABLE TO CATER FOR ANY PUPIL WHO WANTED TO RECEIVE FREE EDUCATION.

HE RECALLED THAT THE FIRST BATCH OF FOUR ROCE TOP SCHOOLS IN SHEK KIP MEI - ALL SPONSORED BY VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS - WERE REGISTERED IN 1957.

ROOF TOP SCHOOLS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH THS EDUCATION ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS AND LIKE OTHER SCHOOLS THEY A. GIVEN PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT THROUGH ITS INSPECTORATE AND AREA STAFF.

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