XN000022-1978-08-02 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1978

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EVENTS LEADING TO SCHOOL CLOSURE EXPLAINED

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THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON. KENNETH TOPLEY, EXPLAINED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY. THE EVENTS SURROUND ING THE CLOSURE OF THE SHA TIN LUTHERAN PRIMARY SCHOOL AND THE CAUSES OF DISCONTENT AMONG STUDENTS AND PARENTS.

HE WAS REPLY ING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON, LYDIA DURY.

MR. TOPLEY SAID THE SCHOOL, ALONG WITH THE SHA TIN MARKET, WAS DUE TO BE CLEARED SHORTLY AFTER THE LUNAR NEW YEAR IN 1979 TO MAKE WAY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW TOWN CENTRE.

+TO MINIMISE DISRUPTION OF THE CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, AFTER CONSULTING THE SCHOOL SUPERVISOR AND THE SPONSOR ING BODY, IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE CHILDREN SHOULD BE PLACED IN OTHER NEW SCHOOLS IN THE AREA IN SEPTEMBER 1978, THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, HE SAID.

*THIS TIMING WOULD ALSO ENABLE THE TEACHERS TO FIND ALTERNATIVE POSTS THROUGH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S PLACEMENT SERVICE.

+CNCE ASSURED THAT BOTH THESE AIMS COULD BE ACHIEVED, THE GOVERNMENT INFORMED THE SCHOOL SUPERVISOR IN MARCH THAT THE SUBSIDY FOR ITS 10 AIDED CLASSES, WOULD CEASE AT THE END OF AUGUST, 1978.

+NO CLOSURE ORDER HAS, IN FACT, BEEN SERVED ON THE SCHOOL.

+A GROUP OF PARENTS STATED DISSATISFACTION THAT THE PRESENT SCHOOL WOULD NOT CONTINUE.

+THEY ASKED FOR A NEW SCHOOL BUILDING TO WHICH THE PRESENT PUPILS AND STAFF COULD MOVE WHEN THEIR PRESENT PREMISES WERE DEMOLISHED, OR FOR MONETARY COMPENSATION FOR EXPENSES INCURRED IN EUYING AEW SCHOOL UNIFORMS.+

IN REPLY TO MISS DU'S ANOTHER QUESTION, VR. TOPLEY SAID: THE ARRANGEMENTS TO PROVIDE ALTERATIVE POSTS FOR TEACHERS AND PLACES FOR THE CHILDREN IN VEIGHBOURING SCHOOLS WERE THOUGHT TO BE REASONABLE AND FAIRD ACCEPTABLE TO NEARLY EVERYONE, INCLUDING THE SCHOOL'S SPONSORING BODY.

/+HOWEVER.