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"FOR STUDENTS RECEIVING POST-SECONDARY OR TERTIARY EDUCATION, THEIR ELIGIBILITY WILL BE DETERMINED BY REFERENCE TO WHETHER THEY SUCCEED IN OBTAINING GRANTS OR LOANS UNDER THE STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME OR THE LOCAL STUDENT FINANCE SCHEME RESPECTIVELY, HE SAID.

"THE NEW RULES OF ELIGIBILITY WILL NOT AFFECT THOSE WHO NEED AND ARE

THE RECEIVING HELP, AS THEY WILL CONTINUE TO BENEFIT UNDER SCHEME, "THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED.

THIS GROUP OF STUDENTS TYPICALLY COME FROM HOUSEHOLDS EARNING LESS THAN $10,000 PER MONTH.

FOUR-MEMBER

"THE MEANS TEST ITSELF WOULD NOT INVOLVE PROCEDURES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

T

CUMBERSOME

"ARRANGEMENTS EITHER EXIST ALREADY OR CAN BE EASILY ADAPTED ΤΟ DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR STUDENTS STUDYING AT DIFFERENT LEVELS.

"THE MEANS TEST FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN WILL BE APPLIED IN A FLEXIBLE WAY."

APPLICANTS WHO FAIL TO QUALIFY MARGINALLY OR WHOSE PERSONAL

REQUIRE SPECIAL TREATMENT WILL OBTAIN ASSISTANCE

CIRCUMSTANCES THE STSS.

UNDER

EFFECT THE

BE

MONTH

SHOULD ON THE FINANCIALLY BETTER-OFF FAMILIES MINIMAL.' THE SUBSIDY THEY WILL FORGO WILL BE LESS THAN $60 PER PER STUDENT ON AVERAGE.

THE INTRODUCTION OF THE MEANS TEST WILL BRING THE STUDENT TRAVEL SUBSIDY SCHEME INTO LINE WITH ALL OTHER PUBLICLY-FUNDED SCHEMES THAT PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS.

NEED

ON RIGHT

"WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE STSS, ALL SUCH SCHEMES ARE BASED

ONLY BEING ESTABLISHED BY WAY OF A MEANS TEST, AND IT IS THAT THE STSS SHOULD BE BROUGHT WITHIN THIS GENERAL RULE, WHATEVER THE STATE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S FINANCES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

"THE INTRODUCTION OF MEANS TESTING TO THE STSS SHOULD NOT HAVE EFFECT THE

OF

OR DISCOURAGING CHILDREN FROM GOING TO SCHOOL

FROM TAKING PART IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES," HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS NOT THE SCHEME THAT BEING CHANGED, ONLY ELIGIBILITY FOR THE SUBSIDY,

WAS

BY

"THIS MEASURE IS BEING INTRODUCED IN RESPONSE TO CALLS MADE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING THE 1990-91 BUDGET DEBATE

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSCIENTIOUSLY REVIEW THAT

SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES, AND CUT BACK ON THOSE WHICH ARE NO LONGER JUSTIFIED.

EXISTING

"THIS MEASURE WILL, INCIDENTALLY, ENABLE THE EDUCATION AND RE-FOCUS ITS PRIORITIES FOR EDUCATIONAL

MANPOWER BRANCH ΤΟ

EXPENDITURE.

H

/PAYMENT OF