XN000022-1976-12-10 — Page 2

1

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1976

GOVERNMENT SPENDS MORE ON FEE ASSISTANCE

****

THE GOVERNMENT IS SPENDING MORE ON FEE ASSISTANCE TO PUPILS UNDER THE BOUGHT PLACES SCHEME IN BOTH NON-PROF IT-MAKING AND INDEPENDENT PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE CURRENT ACADEMIC YEAR.

THE MAXIMUM RATE OF FEE SUPPLEMENT HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM $280 TO $400 PER ANNUM IN FORMS 1 TO 3 AND FROM $280 TO 530 PER ANNUM IN FORMS 4 AND 5.

THE NEW RATES, EFFECTIVE FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1976, HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

THE NEW RATES, WHICH ARE MORE THAN 40 PER CENT OF THE PREVIOUS FEE SUPPLEMENT FOR BOTH THE THREE-YEAR AND FIVE-YEAR SCHEMES, INVOLVE AN ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE OF $10,360,000 IN A FULL FINANCIAL YEAR.

IN THE 1975-76 FINANCIAL YEAR $27,346,000 WAS SPENT ON FEE ASSISTANCE UNDER THE BOUGHT PLACES SCHEME.

THE FEE REMISSION RATE OF 45 PER CENT WILL CONTINUE TO APPLY TO THESE PLACES FOR NEEDY PUPILS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID.

/2