XN000022-1976-11-16 — Page 3

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1976

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PUBLIC DEMANDS BEST STANDARDS OF EDUCATION

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THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY SAID TODAY THAT THE PUBLIC DEMAND + IS FOR EDUCATION TO BE DEVELOPED TO THE BEST STANDARDS THAT HONG KONG CAN AFFORD.+

ADDRESSING THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF PENINSULA, MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT IN THE LONG RUN FOR PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN THESE STANDARDS WITHOUT CHARGING FEES BEYOND THE MEANS OF MOST PARENTS.

THIS WAS THE FIRST AND FOREMOST REASON WHY THE GOVERNMENT COULD NOT ACCEPT DEMANDS FROM PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS. THESE SCHOOLS WANTED THE GOVERNMENT TO DEVELOP SECONDARY EDUCATION THROUGH THE PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SECTOR RATHER THAN BUILD NEW SCHOOLS AND THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FINANCIALLY ASSIST THESE SCHOOLS SO THAT THEY COULD EMPLOY BETTER QUALIFIED TEACHERS AND RAISE STANDARDS.

THE DIRECTOR SAID THE OTHER COGENT REASONS WHY THESE DEMANDS COULD NOT BE ACCEPTED WERE :

* NEW SCHOOLS MUST BE BUILT AND THESE MUST BE IN THE AREAS

OF NEW DEVELOPMENT WHERE THE PEOPLE WILL BE LIVING AND CHILDREN WILL BE, THAT IS GENERALLY IN THE NEW TOWNS.

*

*

IT WOULD NOT BASICALLY BE RIGHT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO SUBVENT OR OTHERWISE FINANCIALLY ASSIST THE PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS SINCE THEY ARE LEGALLY BUSINESS VENTURES AND TO ASSIST THEM FINANCIALLY IS TO SUBSIDISE PROFITS. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO UPHOLD THIS PRINCIPLE.

EVEN WITH A DEGREE OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT THE MAJORITY OF PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS WILL ACHIEVE THE STANDARDS WHICH HONG KONG WILL NEED IN FUTURE.

REFERRING TO ACCUSATIONS OF IRRESPONSIBILITY, INCONSISTENCY AND INSINCERITY ON THIS ISSUE, MR. TOPLEY STATED IT IS NOT IRRESPONSIBLE TO CARRY OUT THE EVIDENT WISH OF THE HONG KONG POPULATION TO DEVELOP EDUCATION ON A SOUND BASIS FOR GOOD STANDARDS AND TO BUILD SCHOOLS WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED.

+OUR POLICIES ARE CONSISTENT TO DEVELOP EDUCATION THROUGH THE AIDED SECTOR SO FAR AS POSSIBLE. AND I HAVE INDICATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE POLICIES OVER TIME. THE BUYING OF PLACES IN PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS HAS NEVER BEEN REGARDED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS A LONG-TERM AIM BUT RATHER AS NECESSARY UNTIL MORE LONG-TERM PLANS CAN BE BROUGHT TO FRUITION.

+AS FOR MY SINCERITY YOU MUST JUDGE FOR YOURSELVES.+

THE DIRECTOR...

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