XN000022-1979-05-09 — Page 11

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1979

COMPULSORY EDUCATION — HINDRANCES MUST BE OVERCOME

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REV. THE HON. JOYCE BENNETT SUPPORTED THE INTENTION OF THE EDUCATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979 TO EXTEND COMPULSORY EDUCATION TO FORM HI BUT POINTED OUT PROBLEMS IN IMPLEMENTING SUCH EDUCATION IN HONG KONG,

SHE SAID THERE ARE HINDRANCES - INSUFFICIENT SCHOOLS FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, AND INSUFFICIENT FACILITIES TO GET ALL THE CHILDREN LIVING IN RURAL AREAS OR ON BOATS WHICH MUST BE OVERCOME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

+OUR COMMUNITY CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE AN UNEDUCATED POPULATION IN 10 OR 20 YEARS TIME, SHE SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SHE POINTED OUT, FURTHERMORE, THAT WHILE PARENTS ARE MORE WILLING TO INSIST ON THEIR CHILDREN REMAINING AT PRIMARY SCHOOL, THEY ARE MORE INDUCED TO HAVE THEIR SECONDARY SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN WORK TOWARDS CONTRIBUTING TO THE FAMILY BUDGET.

ALTHOUGH THE AGE OF EMPLOYMENT WILL BE RAISED AND THE

RESTRICTIONS ON EMPLOYING CHILDREN WILL BE EXTENDED BEYOND FACTORIES, SHE HOPED THAT THE STAFFING OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL BE INCREASED SUFFICIENTLY TO DEAL

EFFECTIVELY WITH PARENTS WHO DO NOT SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO ATTEND SCHOOL REGULARLY.

ANOTHER PROBLEM OF ENFORCING COMPULSORY EDUCATION IS THE REQUIREMENT FOR PARENTS TO BUY TEXTBOOKS AND STATIONERY, MISS BENNETT POINTED OUT.

THERE ARE NO PLANS TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO NEEDY STUDENTS AT SECONDARY LEVEL FOR THESE PURCHASES. ALTHOUGH THOSE FAMILIES RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CAN GET REFUNDS, THERE ARE OTHERS JUST OUTSIDE THE SOCIAL SECURITY NET WHICH IS DESIGNED TO CATCH ONLY THOSE IN REAL NEED, SHE SAID,

SHE POINTED OUT THAT SECONDARY SCHOOLS ARE ALREADY FEELING THE EFFECT OF THE ABOLITION OF THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS ENTRANCE EXAMINATION AND STUDENTS ARE COMING INTO FORM I LACK ING DISCIPLINE AND THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE INCENTIVE TO STUDY HARD.

SHE QUERIED THE ADEQUACY OF HAVING ONE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER FOR 4,000 STUDENTS, AND THE ADEQUACY OF A RATIO OF 1.3 TEACHER FOR ONE CLASS OF 40 STUDENTS.

SHE FORESAW THAT THE BILL WILL PLACE AN INTOLERABLE STRAIN ON THE ALREADY OVERPRESSED SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS, AND CALLED FOR AN INCREASE IN THE RATIO WHICH SHE SAID WAS IMPOSED AS A TEMPORARY MEASURE IN 1965 AND HAS LASTED TOO LONG.

SHE REJECTED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S COMMENT THAT SHE HAS EXPENSIVE IDEAS ON EDUCATION.

+1 AM ASKING ONLY FOR NECESSARY IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM SO THAT OUR SCHOOLS WILL BE WORTH COMPELLING PARENTS TO SEND THE IR CHILDREN TO, SHE SAID,

/ANOTHER