XN000022-1992-10-07 — Page 27

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1992

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AS A RESULT OF THESE MEASURES, MR PATTEN SAID THERE WOULD ABOUT 780 ADDITIONAL TEACHERS NEXT YEAR AND A FURTHER 1,420 BY 1997.

THIS INCREASE WOULD REDUCE THE RATIO OF PUPILS TO TEACHERS:

BE

—

FROM 27 TO 24 IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS, AND

FROM 22 TO 20 IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS,

BETWEEN NOW AND 1997.

THE TO IMPROVE TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION, MR PATTEN SAID GOVERNMENT WOULD SET UP A PROVISIONAL GOVERNING COUNCIL FOR THE PROPOSED NEW INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION AND MAKE OTHER INTERIM IMPROVEMENTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IN THE NEW YEAR.

CERTIFICATE

HE SAID THE COUNCIL WOULD BE GIVEN THE TASK OF PLANNING THE INSTITUTE'S DEVELOPMENT INTO AN INDEPENDENT BODY OFFERING AND, IN DUE COURSE, DEGREE QUALIFICATIONS.

"AND WE WILL ENCOURAGE THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS ΤΟ DEVELOP COURSES TO ENABLE SERVING TEACHERS TO UPGRADE THEIR QUALIFICATIONS, " HE SAID.

THE OPEN LEARNING INSTITUTE HAD A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE TO THIS PROCESS, AND THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSED TO PROVIDE A CAPITAL GRANT OF $150 MILLION TO HELP IT ACQUIRE ITS OWN BUILDING.

"WE

PROPORTION

OF

SHALL ALSO BE TAKING STEPS TO INCREASE THE QUALIFIED TEACHERS IN KINDERGARTENS BY IMPROVING THE FEE REMISSION SCHEME," HE ADDED.

DELAY IN NEW AIRPORT A PITY FOR HK AND CHINA: GOVERNOR

ANY DELAY IN THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW AIRPORT WOULD BE A GREAT PITY FOR HONG KONG AND FOR CHINA, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN HIS POLICY ADDRESS, MR PATTEN SAID HE VERY MUCH HOPED THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RESOLVE THE LATEST DIFFICULTIES IN SHORT ORDER.

"I WILL WORK MY HARDEST TO DO SO," HE SAID.

"IF IN THE EVENT WE CANNOT ACHIEVE THE BREAK-THROUGH WE NEED, AND IF BECAUSE OF THAT THE TIMETABLE SLIPS, THE COSTS RISE AND I HAVE TO FLY OUT OF KAI TAK OR LEAVE ON THE LADY MAURINE, IT WILL NOT BE FOR WANT OF EFFORT OR INGENUITY IN SEEKING OUT A TIMELY SOLUTION, HE SAID.

H

AIRPORT ON ITS

"I REMAIN CONVINCED THAT IF WE DISCUSS THE MERITS, THEN OUR VERY ABLE NEGOTIATORS ON BOTH SIDES COULD SORT THINGS OUT IN A MORNING, PERHAPS EVEN WITH A BREAK FOR COFFEE."

/THE GOVERNOR

T