XN000022-1978-12-09 — Page 3

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1978

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MR. HO SAID THE COURSES UNDER THE NEW STRUCTURE WOULD BE RELATED TO THOSE IN PUBLIC SECTOR INSTITUTIONS, AND THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD FACILITATE THE GRANTING OF APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION FOR THE COLLEGE'S AWARDS.

THE TWO-YEAR COURSES AT THE SIXTH FORM LEVEL WOULD LEAD TO THE HONG KONG ADVANCED LEVEL EXAMINATION OR A RECOGNISED EQUIVALENT EXAMINATION- THE COLLEGE MIGHT ALSO PUT FORWARD PROPOSALS FOR A NEW COURSE AND EXAMINATION WHICH THE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY ACCEPTED AS BEING AT AN EQUIVALENT LEVEL.

POSSESSION OF THESE RECOGNISED QUALIFICATIONS WOULD ENABLE STUDENTS FROM THE COLLEGE, IF THEY SO CHOSE, TO PROCEED TO OTHER

INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, TO ENTER EMPLOYMENT AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL, OR TO CONTINUE THE IR EDUCATION AT THE COLLEGE.

MR. HO SAID THOSE WHO CONTINUE THEIR STUDIES AT THE COLLEGE FOR THE SECOND TWO-YEAR COURSE MAY BE JOINED BY OTHER STUDENTS WHO HAVE COMPLETED A SUITABLE ADVANCED LEVEL COURSE ELSEWHERE.

+STUDENTS COMPLETING THIS COURSE MAY APPLY TO BE SELECTED BY THE COLLEGE FOR THE FURTHER ONE-YEAR COURSE REFERRED TO EARLIER, FOR WHICH I UNDERSTAND THE COLLEGE PROPOSES TO GRANT A DIPLOMA WITH HONOURS, HE SAID.

IT WAS NOT INTENDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BECOME INVOLVED WITH THE SELECTION AND EXAMINATION PROCEDURES FOR THESE TERTIARY LEVEL COURSES, WHICH WOULD REMA IN MATTERS FOR THE COLLEGE.

HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE STATUS OF THE COLLEGE'S AWARDS WAS CLEAR, THE GOVERNMENT WAS PREPARED TO ARRANGE FOR INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENTS TO BE MADE OF THE STANDARD OF THE AWARDS PROVIDED BY THE COLLEGE IN RELATION TO THE AWARDS MADE BY THE POLYTECHNIC AND TO REVIEW ON THIS BASIS THE RECOGNITION GIVEN TO THOSE ENTER ING GOVERNMENT SERVICE.

NEEDY STUDENTS ENTERING THE TWO-YEAR POST-FORM VI COURSES WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR GRANTS OF UP TO $2,000 PER ANNUM AND LOANS OF $2,400 PER ANNUM. STUDENTS CONTINUING ON THE OLD STRUCTURE COURSES AND THE FUTURE FIFTH YEAR COURSE SHOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR LOANS OF UP TO $4,400 A YEAR, EVEN THOUGH THE COLLEGES THEMSELVES WOULD NOT QUALIFY FOR ANY GRANT IN RESPECT OF SUCH COURSES.

MR. HO SAID: +IN FRAMING THE WHITE PAPER PROPOSALS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE APPROVED POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN CARE NOT TO UNDERMINE THE IR STATUS AS PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS WITH A CONSIDERABLE MEASURE OF FREEDOM OVER CURRICULUM, SYLLABUSES AND STAFFING ARRANGEMENTS.+

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