XN000022-1977-10-05 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1977

COMPULSORY AND FREE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION

FOR ALL * *

JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION WILL BE MADE COMPULSORY AND FREE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

AND THE COUNCIL WOULD BE INVITED TO AGREE THAT FEES SHOULD BE ABOLISHED AS FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR 1978/79 FOR ALL IN FORM I TO 1 IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, HE SAID.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE EXISTING PROHIBITION OF EMPLOYMENT OF 13 AND 14-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS WILL BE EXTENDED TO NON-INDUSTRIAL ONES AS WELL.

SIR MURRAY SAID LEGISLATION WILL BE INTRODUCED TO MAKE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION COMPULSORY UP TO A CHILD'S 15TH BIRTHDAY OR UNTIL THE FORM I COURSE HAS BEEN COMPLETED, IF THAT IS EARLIER.

+ THE POWERS OF THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION UNDER THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE TO SERVE A SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ORDER WILL BE EXTENDED TO 12 TO 13-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN WITH EFFECT FROM SEPTEMBER 1979 AND TO 14 YEAR-OLDS FROM SEPTEMBER 1980 - THAT IS TO SAY, ONE YEAR AFTER PLACES FOR ALL CHILDREN IN EACH AGE-GROUP BECOME AVAILABLE,+ SIR MURRAY SAID.

ON THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO EXTEND THE PROHIBITION OF EMPLOYMENT OF 13 AND 14-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN TO NON-INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAK INGS, SIR MURRAY SAID THE INTENTION WAS TO PROHIBIT EMPLOYMENT WHICH WOULD INTERFERE WITH A CHILD'S SCHOOLING.

BUT, HE ADDED, FLEXIBILITY WILL BE MAINTAINED TO ALLOW FOR PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT PARTICULARLY IN FAMILY BUSINESSES OR SUMMER JOBS.

+THOSE WHO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR FORM 111 EDUCATION BEFORE REACHING 15 WILL ALSO BE ALLOWED TO WORK IF THEY SO WISH.+

SIR MURRAY SAID THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION ON THIS ASPECT, DETAILS OF WHICH WILL REQUIRE CONSULTATION WITH THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, WOULD NOT COME INTO FORCE UNTIL THE BEGINNING OF SCHOOL YEAR 1979/80.

HE NOTED THAT WHILE EDUCATION AT FORM IV AND ABOVE WILL REMAIN VERY HEAVILY SUBSIDISED, MODERATE FEES WILL CONTINUE TO BE CHARGED TO THOSE WHO CAN PAY THEM AND WILL BE REMITTED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT.

ON FURTHER EDUCATION PROSPECTS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL LEAVERS SIR MURRAY SAID THE COMING YEAR WILL WITNESS A MILESTONE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION IN HONG KONG.

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