XN000022-1982-04-15 — Page 10

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 1982

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CONCERN FELT OVER LACK OF UNIVERSITY PLACES

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THE SHORTAGE OF UNIVERSITY PLACES, REFERRED TO BY THE HON PETER WONG, WAS A MATTER OF CONCERN TO THE GOVERNMENT,

THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION, THE HON KENNETH TOPLEY, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THIS CONCERN WAS PARTICULARLY FELT AS THE GREAT EXPANSION OF SECONDARY EDUCATION IN RECENT YEARS WILL INCREASE THE NUMBERS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ASPIRE TO HIGHER EDUCATION, MR TOPLEY SAID.

HE ALSO SAID: THE INCREASE IN OVERSEAS STUDENT TUITION FEES IN BRITAIN AND IN SOME PROVINCES IN CANADA HAS REMINDED US THAT WE MUST LOOK TO OUR OWN RESOURCES IN MEETING THIS DEMAND.+

REFERRING TO MR WONG'S OBSERVATION THAT ONLY TWO PER CENT OF THE RELEVANT AGE GROUP GO ON TO UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN HONG KONG, MR TOPLEY SAID IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED THAT WE ARE MUCH STRONGER AT NON-UNIVERSITY LEVELS OF POST-SCHOOL EDUCATION.

THERE WAS A GOOD RANGE OF COURSES LEADING TO HIGHER DIPLOMAS AND DIPLOMAS AT THE POLYTECHNIC AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, THE DIPLOMAS OF THE POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES, OR TO SPECIFIC QUALIFICATIONS RELATED TO TEACHING, NURSING AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS, HE POINTED OUT.

MR TOPLEY ALSO SAID THAT THE PROPORTION RECEIVING DEGREES SHOULD INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, THROUGH CONTINUING EXPANSION OF THE UNIVERSITIES, COUPLED WITH THE DECREASE OF NUMBERS IN THE AGE GROUP, AND THROUGH NEW MEASURES SUCH AS THE INTRODUCTION OF DEGREE PROGRAMMES AT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC,

MR TOPLEY ALSO REFERRED TO THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN FINANCIAL SUPPORT GIVEN TO THE HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE, POINTING OUT THAT FOUR YEARS AGO IT RECEIVED NO RECURRENT ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT BUT THIS YEAR WILL RECEIVE $25 MILLION.

HE SAID IT WAS THE INTENTION THAT THE BAPTIST COLLEGE SHOULD, LIKE THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, EVENTUALLY OFFER A MIX OF DEGREE AND NON-DEGREE COURSES.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WOULD BE REQUIRED FROM THE GOVERNMENT IN ADDITION TO TIME FOR THE STANDARD OF THE DEGREE COURSES OFFERED TO BE COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF THE UNIVERSITIES, AND IT WAS NECESSARY FOR THE RESOURCES THAT ARE DEPLOYED TO SHOW BENEFICIAL EFFECT+, HE SAID.

MR TOPLEY SAID THAT CAREFUL ATTENTION TO PLANNING THE NEW PROFILE FOR THE DEGREE COURSES WOULD BE REQUIRED ON THE PART OF THE COLLEGE STAFF.

AND THE

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