XN000022-1976-10-06 — Page 11

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976

GOVT. TO PROVIDE NINE YEARS OF EDUCATION

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THE GOVERNMENT'S IMMEDIATE PRIORITY IN EDUCATION IS TO PROVIDE NINE YEARS OF EDUCATION, INCLUDING THREE YEARS OF SECONDARY EDUCATION, FOR ALL AND WITHIN THE MEANS OF ALL, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE ADDED: THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF OUR INABILITY HITHERTO TO DO THIS HAVE BEEN A MATTER OF DEEP CONCERN- HOWEVER THE THREE YEARS FROM 1978-80 WILL SEE AN END OF THIS.+

+BY *78 THE EXTRA PLACES WILL BE FOUND FOR ALL PRIMARY SCHOOL LEAVERS BY BUILDING OR CONVERSION TO CREATE 48 NEW SCHOOLS, BY FLOTATION AND EXTENDED DAY CLASSES, AND BY THE PURCHASE OF PLACES IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS,+ HE SAID.

THESE ARRANGEMENTS, HOWEVER, SHOULD NOT BE MADE PERMANENT AND SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FURTHER 35 NEW SCHOOLS WILL BE UNDERTAKEN IN THE COMING TWO YEARS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF JUNIOR SECONDARY PLACES, HE SAID.

TO ASSIST QUALITY DURING THIS PERIOD OF EXPANSION, HE ADDED +HERCULEAN EFFORTS HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION SERVICES FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT THESE ARRANGEMENTS INCLUDED PROVISION FOR ONLY 29 PER CENT OF THE 15-16 AGE GROUP WHILE THE WHITE PAPER HAD RECOMMENDED THE PROVISION OF ASSISTED SENIOR SECONDARY PLACES FOR 40 PER CENT OF THIS AGE GROUP.

+SO IN THE COMING YEAR PLANS MUST BE MADE TO MEET THIS SHORTFALL, HE SAID.

HE ALSO REVEALED THAT, WITH THE PROSPECT OF PROVISION FOR UP TO FORM 3 BEING COMPLETED AND WITH THE INCREASING NUMBER OF PLACES AT OTHER LEVELS WHICH COULD BE EXPECTED IN THE EARLY 1980'S, A WORKING PARTY WAS ENGAGED IN DRAWING UP A REPORT ON WHAT OUR FUTURE COURSE SHOULD BE FOR SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION AND THE BALANCE THAT SHOULD BE MAINTAINED BETWEEN ACADEMIC AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

+WHEN THE REPORT IS READY, WHICH SHOULD BE EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR, I WILL BE SEEKING ADVICE ON BOTH THE SUBSTANCE OF THE REPORT AND ON PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING IT, + HE SAID.

+BUT SINCE IT WILL BE OF SUCH CONCERN TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, AT THE MOMENT IT SEEMS TO ME A SUITABLE SUBJECT FOR A GREEN PÅPER BEFORE ANY FINAL DECISION IS TAKEN, HE ADDED.

/TURNING