XN000022-1990-07-04 — Page 20

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1990

18

MEMBERS' POINT,

THE

TO MEET

ADMINISTRATION HAD AGREED TO DELETE FROM THE NEW SECTION THAT PART WHICH PROHIBITED THE SUSPENSION OF A PUPIL.

INSTEAD, THE ISSUE OF SUSPENSION WOULD BE DEALT WITH ADMINISTRATIVELY BY AMENDING THE CODES OF AID FOR SCHOOLS

TO PROVIDE THAT THE DIRECTOR NEEDED ONLY BE INFORMED WHERE A CHILD NAMED IN AN ATTENDANCE ORDER WAS TO BE SUSPENDED FOR UP TO THREE SCHOOL DAYS, MR CHEUNG SAID.

ON THE SUGGESTED MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR CONTRAVENING NEW SUBSECTIONS REGARDING THE ATTENDANCE ORDERS A FINE OF $5,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS

THE GROUP FELT THAT A TWO-YEAR IMPRISONMENT WAS TOO HARSH ON SCHOOLS AND SHOULD BE REDUCED то THREE MONTHS, MR CHEUNG SAID, ADDING THAT THIS HAD BERN ENDORSED BY THE ADMINISTRATION.

0

EDUCATION BILL MAY AGGRAVATE DELINQUENCY

*

A PROPOSED AMENDMENT IN THE EDUCATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1990 MAY AGGRAVATE JUVENILE DELINQUENCY IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, THE HON ELSIE TU SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY),

SPEAKING IN THE SECOND READING DEBATE ON THE BILL, MRS TU SAID SHE COULD NOT FULLY SUPPORT THE AMENDMENT TO SECTION 74 OF CLAUSE 6 OF THE BILL, WHICH SOUGHT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF DELINQUENCY BY PUTTING RESPONSIBILITY UPON PARENTS, TEACHERS AND SCHOOL MANAGEMENTS.

SHE SAID IN HER ESTIMATION, THE AMENDMENT WAS IN BREACH OF THE INTERNATONAL COVENANT ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS WHICH THE GOVERNMENT CLAIMED TO SUPPORT.

NOTING THAT THE COVENANT RECOMMENDED FREE EDUCATION BUT DID NOT MENTION THAT IT SHOULD BE COMPULSORY, MRS TU SAID THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WOULD REMOVE FURTHER THE RIGHT OF A CHILD AND HIS PARENTS

UNSUITABLE TO REJECT A FORM OF EDUCATION WHICH WAS NOT ONLY

THE CHILD BUT WAS ACTUALLY HARMFUL TO HIMSELF, HIS PARENTS AND HIS SCHOOL.

FOR

MRS TU SAID THAT AT THE END OF FORM ONE, THE SIGNALS WERE CLEAR WHETHER

TYPE OF EDUCATION A CHILD WAS RECEIVING WAS SUITABLE FOR HIS NATURE OR HIS FUTURE.

THE

"THE CHILD AT THIS POINT NEEDS TO BE GIVEN A UP APPRENTICESHIP OR TO ENTER A PRE-VOCATIONAL COURSE.

CHOICE,

ΤΟ

TAKE

BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS HE "IF HE HAS SERIOUS

SHOULD ENTER A CAUSE REFORMATORY SCHOOL WHICH PROVIDES PSYCHOTHERAPY TO DISCOVER THE

SHE ADDED. OF DELINQUENCY AND GIVE APPROPRIATE TREATMENT,

++

MRS TU SAID THE SECTION OF

THEIR RESCUING

SCHOOLS FROM EXPULSION AND LIMITING SUSPENSION OF THOSE

THE PUPILS

COULD AMENDMENT

PREVENT

THE

AND

TEACHERS,

BY

WITH SERIOUS

PROHIBITING BEHAVIOURAL

PROBLEMS.

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