XN000022-1979-06-05 — Page 2

TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 1979

TONG FAI FOR FORMS I

III TO BE ABOLISHED

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TONG FAI IN MOST OF THE AIDED SCHOOLS AND WELFARE FUND IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS WILL BE ABOLISHED IN FORMS TO III AS FROM THE COMING SEPTEMBER.

IN LIEU OF TONG FAI, GOVERNMENT WILL INCREASE THE CAPITATION GRANT PAID TO AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN RESPECT OF FORMS I TO HI PLACES BY $120 A YEAR. AS FAR AS GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS ARE CONCERNED, THE WELFARE FUND WILL BE BORNE BY GOVERNMENT.

FOR NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHOOLS IN WHICH FORMS I TO 111 PLACES ARE BOUGHT THE PER CAPUT GRANT PAID BY THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE INCREASED FROM $416 TO $536 PER PUPIL PER ANNUM.

+THE COST TO PUBLIC FUNDS WILL AMOUNT TO $12 MILLION IN 1979-80 RISING TO $23.3 MILLION IN 1982-83,+ AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.

A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOLS WILL STILL BE PERMITTED TO CHARGE TONG FAI BUT AT A SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED LEVEL SINCE THE $120 A YEAR PAID BY THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT ENTIRELY OFFSET THE SUBSCRIPTION CURRENTLY PAID BY THEIR STUDENTS.

+THE CHARGING OF TONG FA! IN FORMS IV TO VI OF AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOLS WILL STILL BE PERMITTED BUT THE LEVEL AT WHICH IT IS CHARGED WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION,+ HE SAID.

AT THE SAME TIME THE GOVERNMENT WILL WAIVE REPAYMENT OF ALL OUTSTANDING GOVERNMENT LOANS TO 37 AIDED AND 21 PRIVATE NON-PROF IT-MAKING SCHOOLS DUE FOR REPAYMENT AFTER SEPTEMBER 1, 1979.

THESE LOANS WERE MADE AVAILABLE TO AIDED AND PRIVATE NON-PROF IT-MAKING SCHOOLS TO ASSIST TOWARDS THE INITIAL COST OF BUILDING AND EQUIPPING SCHOOLS OR OF EXTENDING, CONVERTING AND REPROVISIONING EXISTING SCHOOLS.

THE TOTAL LOANS AMOUNT TO $52.2 MILLION.

IN FUTURE THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION WILL HAVE THE DISCRETION TO RECOMMEND 100 PER CENT CAPITAL SUBSIDIES FOR THE FINANCING OF EXTENSIONS AND CONVERSION TO EXISTING AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND RE PROVISIONING PROJECTS.

THE 100 PER CENT CAPITAL SUBSIDIES WILL ALSO APPLY TO MAJOR REPAIRS WORK AND THE REPLACEMENT OF FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT IN AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

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