XN000022-1992-06-11 — Page 12

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THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 1992

THE RULES STIPULATE THAT NOT LESS THAN 65% OF THE GRANT SHOULD BE USED ON SUPPLEMENTING TEACHERS' SALARIES AND THAT NOT MORE THAN 35% SHOULD BE USED ON IMPROVEMENTS.

CAPUT SCHOOLS ARE REQUIRED, UNDER THE RULES, то KEEP RECORDS AND ACCOUNTS WHICH ARE MADE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT ANY TIME, AND COPIES ARE SUBMITTED ANNUALLY TOGETHER WITH THE AUDITED ACCOUNTS TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. THESE ARE CHECKED BY THE DEPARTMENT.

UNLIKE AIDED SCHOOLS WHICH HAVE A CODE OF AID UNDER WHICH THE DISMISSAL OF STAFF FOLLOWS A SET OF PROCEDURES, THE RULES GOVERNING CAPUT SCHOOLS REFER ONLY TO CONDITIONS FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF TEACHING STAFF.

HOWEVER, SINCE EARLY LAST YEAR CAPUT SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT WHEN ADDITIONAL FUNDS ARE PROVIDED TO THEM, PROBABLY IN 1993, TO BRING THEM UP TO AIDED SCHOOL STANDARD, THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW THE CODE OF AID PROCEDURES FULLY WHEN APPOINTING AND DISMISSING TEACHERS.

IN TERMS OF LAW, CONTRACTS OF EMPLOYMENT ARE GOVERNED BY THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE. IN DISMISSING TEACHERS, THE EDUCATION REGULATIONS ALSO REQUIRE THE AGREEMENT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

IT HAS BEEN' COMPLIED WITH IN THIS CASE. IN MONITORING THE SCHOOL, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAD ALSO ADVISED THE SUPERVISOR THAT THE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED."

ED STATEMENT ON INQUEST

IN REPSONSE TO MEDIA ENQUIRIES CONCERNING THE INQUEST INTO THE DEATH OF A 13-YEAR-OLD STUDENT, AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID:

THE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT INFORMED BEFOREHAND THAT A CORONER'S COURT WOULD BE HELD AND THAT NO SUMMONS FOR AN OFFICER TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COURT YESTERDAY (JUNE 10) WAS RECEIVED.

A SUMMONS WAS RECEIVED ONLY YESTERDAY THAT AN OFFICER SHOULD APPEAR TODAY AND THIS HAS BEEN COMPLIED WITH.

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL NOT COMMENT ON THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE COURT BUT WILL STUDY THE CORONER'S REPORT WHEN IT IS RECEIVED AND WILL GIVE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO THE RIDERS CONTAINED THEREIN.

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