XN000022-1986-07-02 — Page 31

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 1986

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REVISED SCHOOL FEES FROM SEPTEMBER

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FEES FOR FORMS 4-7 IN GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOLS AND FOR TEACHER TRAINING AND ADULT EDUCATION COURSES OPERATED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL BE REVISED FROM SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF INCREASES IN COST OF LIVING.

THE REVISION SEEKS TO RESTORE THE REAL VALUE OF THE CURRENT FEES WHICH HAVE REMAINED UNCHANGED SINCE THE LAST FEE REVISION ANNOUNCED IN THE 1978 WHITE PAPER ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION.

TO AVOID ANY UNDUE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON PARENTS, THE FEE INCREASES WILL BE PHASED IN OVER THE NEXT FIVE SCHOOL YEARS, BEGINNING IN SEPTEMBER.

FOR FORMS 4 AND 5, THE FEE PAYABLE IN TEN MONTHLY INSTALMENTS A YEAR WILL RISE BY $10 TO $70 A MONTH FROM SEPTEMBER. IT WILL RISE FURTHER TO $85 A MONTH IN THE SCHOOL YEAR COMMENCING IN SEPTEMBER 1987.

FOR FORMS 6-7 AND FULL-TIME DAY COURSES AT THE THREE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION AND THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS' COLLEGE (HKTTC), FEES WILL INCREASE BY $15 A MONTH TO $95 WITH EFFECT FROM SEPTEMBER, AND RISE TO $115 FROM SEPTEMBER 1987.

INCREASES FOR THE THREE SUCCEEDING SCHOOL YEARS, 1988-89 TO 1990-91, WILL BE REVIEWED AND ANNOUNCED NEARER THE TIME, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT MORE UP-TO-DATE COST OF LIVING FIGURES.

THE REVISED STANDARD FEES WILL ALSO AFFECT FEE ASSISTANCE FOR FORMS 4-7 BOUGHT PLACES IN NON-PROFIT MAKING PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT GRANTS FOR ENGLISH SCHOOLS FOUNDATION SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND LINGNAN COLLEGE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID NEEDY STUDENTS COULD CONTINUE TO SEEK FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE FEE REMISSION SCHEME. UNDER THE SCHEME, THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES REMISSION OF FEES UP TO 45 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL FEE INCOME FROM FORMS 4-5 AND 50 PER CENT FROM FORMS 6-7. AN ELIGIBLE STUDENT MAY RECEIVE EITHER HALF, THREE QUARTERS, OR FULL FEE REMISSION.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF INTEREST-FREE LOANS AND MAINTENANCE GRANTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE MADE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS IN THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION AND HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS' COLLEGE.

FOR ADULT