XN000022-1982-03-24 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1982

MISS BENNETT AGREED THAT REASONABLE CONTROLS AND SUPERVISION, INCLUDING AUDITING OF ACCOUNTS, ON ALL AIDED SCHOOLS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SOUND MANAGEMENT BUT FELT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT ALTER UNILATERALLY THE CODES OF AID AND REGULATIONS FOR THE RUNNING OF THE SCHOOLS.

CITING AN EXAMPLE, MISS BENNETT SAID: +NOW IT SEEMS THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WISHES TO CONTROL MORE COMPLETELY THE APPOINTMENT OF PRINCIPALS.

+THE DEPARTMENT IS DEMANDING THE RIGHT TO DRAW UP A SHORTLIST OF CANDIDATES, TO WHICH THE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MAY ONLY ADD NAMES AND FROM WHICH THE DEPARTMENT WILL CHOOSE THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS MOST SUITABLE.

+ THE SPONSORING BODIES MUST HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN PRINCIPALS AND STAFF, SUBJECT OF COURSE TO THE APPROVAL OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AS PREVIOUSLY.+

IF GOVERNMENT CANNOT TRUST THE AIDED BODIES, SHE ADDED, THEY MUST RUN ALL THE SCHOOLS, THE HOSPITALS AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCIES THEMSELVES.

+1 AM QUITE SURE THE ADDED BURDEN OF ALL THE FRINGE BENEFITS AND THE SALARIES OF ALL THE STAFF WORKING IN ALL THE SUBVENTED BODIES WOULD BRING CONSIDERABLE ALARM TO OUR FINANCIAL SECRETARY.+

MISS BENNETT ALSO CRITICISED THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FOR FAILING TO GIVE ANY GUIDANCE TO SCHOOLS ON HOW THE TEACHERS ARE TO TACKLE TEACHING THE STUDENTS IN NEED OF REMEDIAL TUITION.

SHE SAID THIS IS WHERE IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO EXERCISE CONTROL SINCE +VAST SUMS OF PUBLIC MONEY ARE TO BE SPENT ON EXTRA STAFF AND CRITERIA FOR THEIR USE ARE LAID DOWN+.

MISS BENNETT SUGGESTED TWO CHANGES THAT HAVE A DIRECT CONNECTION WITH THE EXPENDITURE ON EDUCATION.

FIRST, SHE REPEATED HER EARLIER CALLS FOR THE NEED TO UNIFY THE FOUR GOVERNMENT COLLEGES OF EDUCATION WHICH HAVE BEEN HAMPERED BY LACK OF LONG-TERM PLANNING.

+I BELIEVE THAT THESE FOUR COLLEGES SHOULD BE FULLY AMALGAMATED, SO THAT THE COSTS COULD BE STREAMLINED AND THEIR FINANCING BE MORE CLEARLY DEFINED.

+TEACHER TRAINING IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND IT DESERVES A UPGC-TYPE OF BUDGETTING SO THAT LONG TERM PLANS CAN BE MADE AND CARRIED OUT.+

SECONDLY, SHE SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT ALLOW SCHOOLS TO PROMOTE THEIR OWN STUDENTS FROM FORM II TO FORM IV AND TO HAVE A CENTRAL ALLOCATION SYSTEM BY ONE ENTRANCE EXAMINATION FOR THOSE STUDENTS UNABLE TO GAIN A SEAT IN THEIR OWN SCHOOL.

/SHE CONSIDERED