XN000022-1992-04-08 — Page 5

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1992

TURNING ΤΟ THE REPEATER ALLOWANCE, MISS CHOW SAID THE GOVERNMENT FULLY ENDORSED THE NEED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SCHOOL EDUCATION. IT WAS UNABLE TO SUPPORT THE HON CHEUNG MAN-KWONG'S ORIGINAL MOTION WHICH CALLED FOR THE REPEATER ALLOWANCE TO BE RETAINED AT PRIMARY 1 AND SECONDARY 1.

THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE REPEATER ALLOWANCE FOR PRIMARY 1 AND SECONDARY 1 IS THE ONLY PRACTICABLE WAY TO PRODUCE THE REQUIRED SAVINGS OF $284 MILLION WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO MAKE UP ELSEWHERE IN THE EDUCATION BUDGET SHOULD IT DECIDE NOT TO PROCEED, SHE EXPLAINED.

"THIS WOULD MEAN DIPPING INTO THE $300 MILLION NEW ALLOCATION WHICH HAS BEEN EARMARKED TO FUND QUALITATIVE IMPROVEMENTS AND WHICH WILL CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO BETTER TEACHING AND SUPPORT SERVICES WITHIN CLASSROOMS.

TT

"IN OTHER WORDS, SOME OF THE MORE AWAITED REFORMS ARISING FROM THE ECR4 AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROCEED THIS YEAR.

FR SUCH A STAND IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE COMMUNITY'S SEE IMPROVEMENTS INTRODUCED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."

SHE

WISH TO

ALSO DISMISSED THE ARGUMENT THAT TO ASSIGN 40, INSTEAD OF 38, PUPILS TO EACH CLASS THROUGH THE PLACES ALLOCATION SYSTEM WOULD AFFECT THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AS WELL AS THE INTEREST OF PARENTS, PUPILS AND TEACHERS.

SUCH ARGUMENTS OVERLOOK THE FACT THAT 40 PER CENT OF PRIMARY 1 CLASSES AND 20 PER CENT OF SECONDARY 1 CLASSES HAVE 38 PUPILS OR LESS AND ARE THEREFORE IN A POSITION TO ACCOMMODATE THE TWO EXTRA PUPILS AND STILL KEEP WITHIN THE NORMAL CLASS SIZE.

IN FACT,

THE AVERAGE SIZE OF CLASSES NOW STANDS AT 34.7 FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND 36.7 FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

SHE SAID THE EFFECT OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF REPEATER ALLOWANCE CLASS SIZE THEREFORE WOULD BE MARGINAL AND LIKELY TO DISSIPATE TIME DUE TO NORMAL WASTAGE.

ON

OVER

SHE ASSURED THE COUNCIL THAT THE REPEATER ALLOWANCE FOR THE LEVELS IN QUESTION WOULD BE RESTORED IN FULL BY THE FIFTH YEAR, THE ANTICIPATED DECLINE IN STUDENT ENROLMENT WOULD MAKE SMALLER SIZE POSSIBLE.

WHEN CLASS

"I HOPE THIS TEMPORARY MEASURE COULD BE SEEN IN THE WIDER CONTEXT OF OTHER POSITIVE INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SCHOOL EDUCATION," MISS CHOW SAID.

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