XN000022-1988-07-11 — Page 15

MONDAY, JULY 11, 1988

14

PROPOSAL ON LENGTH OF FIRST DEGREE COURSES EXPLAINED

THE EDUCATION COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE LENGTH OF FIRST DEGREE COURSES CONTAINED IN ITS NO. 3 REPORT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, THE ACTING PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER,

JOHN DEAN, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

MR

HE SAID THAT LETTERS AND ARTICLES RECENTLY PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPERS SUGGESTED THAT SOME PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT THE COMMISSION PROPOSED CUTTING THE LENGTH OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY'S FIRST DEGREE COURSE BY A YEAR AND PREVENTING OTHER INSTITUTIONS FROM INCREASING THEIR DEGREE LENGTHS BEYOND THREE YEARS.

IN

"THIS IS NOT THE COMMISSION'S INTENTION. WHAT IT PROPOSED, CHAPTER 3 OF THE REPORT NO. 3, WAS THAT THE LENGTH OF ANY INDIVIDUAL COURSE SHOULD BE DETERMINED, IN ACCORDANCE WITH EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS, BY THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS THEMSELVES, SUBJECT TO THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTER'S (UPGC) APPROVAL OF THE NECESSARY FUNDS.

"THE EDUCATION COMMISSION RECOMMENDED THAT THE LENGTH OF FIRST DEGREE COURSES IN THE SAMN SUBJECT AT ALL INSTITUTIONS SHOULD IN PRINCIPLE BE THE SAME.

"THE UPGC WOULD CONTINUE TO USE ITS OWN ACADEMIC AND FINANCIAL CRITERIA TO JUDGE INDIVIDUAL CASES IN THE LIGHT OF GOVERNMENT POLICY PREVAILING AT THE TIME, MR DEAN EXPLAINED.

HE POINTED OUT THAT IF AN INSTITUTION, FOR EXAMPLE, WISHED TO OPERATE A FIRST DEGREE COURSE LONGER THAN THREE YEARS, IT WOULD NEED TO SATISFY THE UPGC THAT THE ADDITIONAL TIME AND FUNDS WERE JUSTIFIED ON EDUCATIONAL GROUNDS.

"THE COMMISSION DID NOT PROPOSE SIMPLY TO CUT THE ALL FIRST DEGREE COURSES TO THREE YEARS," MR DEAN STRESSED.

LENGTH OF

-

STUDENT LOAN FUNDS OFFERED FOR 1988-89

STUDENTS IN POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS, TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NEED OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT THEIR STUDIES IN THE COMING ACADEMIC YEAR (1988-89) MAY OBTAIN INTEREST-FREE LOANS FROM THE HONG KONG ROTARY CLUB STUDENTS' LOAN FUND AND THE STANDARD/SING TAO FAT CHOY DRIVE STUDENTS' LOAN FUND.

A SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENT WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A MAXIMUM OF $2,250 AND A POST-SECONDARY STUDENT FOR $3,170 PER ANNUM.

LOAN

/APPLICATIONS FOR