XN000022-1987-01-21 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1987

*I THEREFORE SUPPORT THE CALL FOR DIRECT SUBSIDY TO COVER TEACHING STAFF SALARIES INSTEAD OF THE SPLIT CONTRIBUTION APPROACH, + SHE SAID.

SHE SAID DIRECT SUBSIDY WOULD SIGNIFY THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO AN ACCEPTABLE STANDARD OF TEACHING PERSONNEL IN KINDERGARTENS.

SHE ADDED THAT A $500 MONTHLY ALLOWANCE FOR THE HEAD TEACHER WAS DISPROPORTIONATE TO THE RESPONSIBILITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE WORK LOAD CURRENTLY UNDERTAKEN BY MOST KINDERGARTEN PRINCIPALS, AND MUST BE REVIEWED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

COMMISSION PRAISED FOR ITS HANDLING OF REPORT NO. 2

*****

THE WAY IN WHICH THE EDUCATION COMMISSION HANDLED ITS REPORT NO. 2 THAT WAS +TO CONSULT BEFORE DECIDING+ AND WAS SUPPORTED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE HON LEE YU-TAI.

SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT, MR LEE SAID HE HOPED THE GOVERNMENT WOULD FOLLOW SUCH PROCEDURE IN FUTURE BEFORE DECIDING ON ANY MAJOR POLICY SO AS TO DEVELOP THE +ADVISORY FORM OF GOVERNMENT INTO AN +OPEN GOVERNMENT+.

HE RECALLED THAT IN THE CASE OF THE EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT NO. 1, THE GOVERNMENT HAD DECIDED TO ACCEPT ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE REPORT BEFORE ITS PUBLICATION. HENCE, IF THE PUBLIC HAD VIEWS TO EXPRESS, THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ALTER THE DECISION MADE.

EVEN

MR LEE SAID HE ALSO SUPPORTED THE EDUCATION COMMISSION'S PROPOSAL THAT THE TWO UNIVERSITIES, THE TWO POLYTECHNICS AND THE HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE SHOULD JOIN TOGETHER TO FORM A CONSORTIUM TO PROMOTE OPEN EDUCATION.

HE SAID A CONSORTIUM WOULD BE MORE RESOURCE SAVING THAN THE SETTING UP OF ANOTHER INDEPENDENT INSTITUTION, AND IT WOULD BE EASIER TO RUN.

/HOWEVER, TERTIARY