XN000022-1987-03-03 — Page 13

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 1987

12

THIRD PHASE OF BOUGHT PLACE REDUCTION PROGRAMME

*****

THE THIRD PHASE OF THE PROGRAMME TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BOUGHT PLACES FROM PRIVATE SCHOOLS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN SEPTEMBER 1988 WHEN MORE SUBSIDISED SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACES IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SCHOOLS BUILDING PROGRAMME.

IN LINE WITH PREVIOUS PRACTICE, THE 12 SCHOOLS IN 13 PREMISES TO BE PHASED OUT IN THE FINAL PHASE ARE BEING GIVEN 18 MONTHS NOTICE THAT FORM 1 PLACES WILL NOT BE REQUIRED FROM THEM WITH EFFECT FROM SEPTEMBER 1988. BOUGHT PLACE STUDENTS IN THESE SCHOOLS WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY FREE EDUCATION UNTIL THEY COMPLETE FORM 3.

ON COMPLETION OF THIS PHASE OF THE REDUCTION PROGRAMME WHICH AFFECTS ABOUT 5 000 FORM 1 BOUGHT PLACES, A TOTAL OF 23 PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN 25 PREMISES WILL REMAIN IN THE BOUGHT PLACE SCHEME OFFERING ABOUT 11 400 FORM 1 PLACES IN SEPTEMBER 1988.

THE REDUCTION PROGRAMME IS IN LINE WITH THE CURRENT APPROVED POLICY ANNOUNCED IN 1978 ON THE PROVISION OF SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACES AND WAS ENDORSED BY THE EDUCATION COMMISSION IN ITS REPORT NO.1 PUBLISHED IN OCTOBER 1984.

THE CRITERIA USED IN DETERMINING WHICH PRIVATE SCHOOLS SHOULD BE PHASED OUT HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE EDUCATION COMMISSION AND THE OMELCO STANDING PANEL ON EDUCATION.

IN ITS REPORT NO.2, THE EDUCATION COMMISSION EXPRESSED THE WISH TO CONSIDER WHAT MEASURES ARE APPROPRIATE TO ENSURE THAT PRIVATE SCHOOLS REMAINING IN THE BOUGHT PLACE SCHEME WILL OFFER THE SAME QUALITY OF EDUCATION AS THE GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOLS.

IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL PUT FORWARD FIRM PROPOSALS IN THIS RESPECT TO THE EDUCATION COMMISSION LATER THIS YEAR.

-

LICENCE REVOKED

***

THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING ANNOUNCED THAT THE LICENCE OF DNC LIMITED AS A DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANY HAS BEEN REVOKED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WITH EFFECT FROM THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON MARCH 3, 1987 AT ITS OWN REQUEST UNDER SECTION 32(2) OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE 1986. THE COMMISSIONER FURTHER ANNOUNCED THAT DNC LIMITED WILL THEN BE REGISTERED AS A DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANY ON MARCH 4, 1987.

/13