XN000022-1993-04-07 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1993

THERE IS RISING CONCERN IN RECENT

YEARS ABOUT UNREGISTERED

TUTORIAL CENTRES FOUND OPERATING IN UNSUITABLE PREMISES.

TO SAFEGUARD THE INTERESTS OF PARENTS AND STUDENTS, THE DEFINITION OF SCHOOL WILL BE AMENDED TO REQUIRE ANY TEACHING OPERATION PROVIDING EDUCATION TO EIGHT OR MORE STUDENTS AT ANY ONE TIME ΤΟ REGISTER WITH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SO THAT THEIR PREMISES WILL HAVE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF REGISTRATION IN TERMS OF SAFETY AND HYGIENE.

"HOWEVER, THE PRESENT FLEXIBILITY OF ALLOWING OPERATORS TO HAVE A MAXIMUM OF 19 STUDENTS ON ANY ONE DAY WITHOUT HAVING TO BE REGISTERED, WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED," A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

WITH

"THUS OPERATORS CAN RUN TWO OR MORE TUTORIAL SESSIONS PER DAY, NOT MORE THAN SEVEN STUDENTS PER SESSION, WITHOUT HAVING то BE REGISTERED.

"INSPECTORS OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL, UNDER A NEW PROVISION, BE EMPOWERED TO INSPECT AND REMOVE DOCUMENTS FROM SUSPECTED UNREGISTERED SCHOOL PREMISES.'

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THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES TO MAKE IT AN OFFENCE FOR SCHOOL OPERATORS WHO, IN ADVERTISEMENTS, FALSELY CLAIM TO BE REGISTERED WITH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

TO ENABLE STUDENTS OR THEIR PARENTS TO EASILY VERIFY A SCHOOL'S CREDENTIALS, SCHOOLS WILL IN FUTURE BE REQUIRED TO STATE THEIR REGISTRATION OR PROVISIONAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ON ANY ADVERTISEMENT.

THE BILL FURTHER PROPOSES TO SIMPLIFY THE PROCEDURES REGISTRATION OF SCHOOL MANAGERS.

FOR

SECTION 7 OF THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE WHICH SETS OUT THE CONSTITUTION AND POWERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WILL ALSO BE AMENDED UPDATE ITS ROLE IN KEEPING WITH THE PRESENT FUNCTIONS OF OTHER ADVISORY BODIES WITHIN THE EDUCATION FIELD.

ΤΟ

A NEW PROVISION IS PROPOSED TO RECOGNISE THE ROLE OF SPONSORING BODIES AND TO SPELL OUT CLEARLY THEIR RESPECTIVE FUNCTIONS IN RELATION TO SCHOOL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES IN THE RUNNING OF SCHOOLS.

ANOTHER NEW PROVISION WILL BE ADDED TO IMPROVE PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING CHANGES TO SCHOOL NAMES.

THE EDUCATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 WILL BE INTRODUCED TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR FIRST AND SECOND READING ON APRIL 21.

THE

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