XN000022-1989-03-20 — Page 2

MONDAY, MARCH 20, 1989

EDUCATION COSTS STUDY GETS GO-AHEAD

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TODAY FOI

THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR RON BRIDGE, (MONDAY) SIGNED A $2.5 MILLION CONTRACT FOR A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY THE DESIGN OF A COMPUTERISED SYSTEM OF LINKED FINANCIAL MODELS TO HELP IN THR DETERMINATION OF COSTS IN HONG KONG'S EDUCATIONAL POLICY.

THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED WITH INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANTS COOPERS AND LYBRAND ASSOCIATES LIMITED.

"THE PROPOSAL FOR THIS CONSULTANCY STUDY WAS ORIGINALLY MADE BY THE EDUCATION COMMISSION IN ITS REPORT NO. 2," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

"THE COMMISSION'S TERMS OF REFERENCE REQUIRE IT TO TAME ACCOUNT OF THE EFFECT OF THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE GOVERNMENT'S EDUCATION BUDGET.

"THE PROPOSED COMPUTER MODELS WILL HELP THE COMMISSION IN THIS TASK. THEY WILL ALSO HELP GOVERNMENT OFFICERS TO STUDY THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF FUTURE CHANGES IN EDUCATION POLICY."

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PRESENT MONTHS TO COMPLETE, WAS THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT,

STUDY, WHICH STAGE OF THE

"IT WILL COMPRISE THE DESIGN OF AN INTEGRATED OF STORING AND ANALYSING DATA FROM ACROSS ALL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM." HE SAID.

WOULD TAKE SIX COMPUTER MODEL

SYSTEM CAPABLE SECTORS OF THE

"DATA FROM ALL SECTORS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO A 'MASTER' MODEL OPERATED BY THE EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.

"THE INFORMATION TO BE COMPILED BY THE CONSULTANTS THE PRE-PRIMARY, PRIMARY, SECONDARY, SIXTH FORM, TECHNICAL, SPECIAL EDUCATION AND TEACHER TRAINING SECTORS.

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RELATES TO

TERTIARY,

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE RESULTS OF THE DESIGN STUDY WOULD PAVE THE WAY FOR THE FINAL STAGE OF THE PROJECT, THAT WAS ACTUALLY то DEVELOP THE FINANCIAL MODELS AND TO MAKE SURE THEY WORK.

"AT THE END OF THIS FINAL STAGE, OFFICERS IN THE EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH AND IN OTHER CONCERNED GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WILL BR ABLE TO OPERATE THE MODELS THROUGH DESK-TOP COMPUTER TERMINALS.

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THE CONSULTANTS FORM PART OF COOPERS AND LYBRAND INTERNATIONAL WHICH PROVIDES PUBLIC AND ACCOUNTING MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY SERVICES FROM 520 OFFICES IN OVER 100 COUNTRIES.

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