XN000022-1994-02-27 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1994

SUBSTANTIAL BUDGET INCREASE FOR EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMMES

* * * * *

TOTAL

PROGRAMMES

EXPENDITURE ON THE EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR.

1994-95,

UNDER THE PROPOSED DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO SPEND $28,930 MILLION ON THE EDUCATION PROGRAMME AND $827 MILLION ON THE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME.

THE

EDUCATION SPENDING REMAINS THE SINGLE BIGGEST ITEM OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE IN THE BUDGET. THE FUNDS EARMARKED FOR THE EDUCATION PROGRAMME REPRESENT A REAL INCREASE OF 6.5 PER CENT OVER THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1993-94, AND THAT FOR THE EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME IS UP BY EIGHT PER CENT.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (SUNDAY), THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR W K LAM, SAID THE OVERALL INCREASE "SIGNIFIES THE GOVERNMENT'S DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN AND ENHANCE SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC IN THESE TWO IMPORTANT PROGRAMME AREAS WHICH AFFECT OUR 1.3 MILLION STUDENTS AND 2.9 MILLION WORKFORCE.

SCHOOL EDUCATION MAINTAINS THE BIGGEST SHARE OF THE BUDGET, WITH A RECURRENT EXPENDITURE OF $14,728 MILLION, WHICH IS $643 MILLION HIGHER THAN THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1993-94.

"THIS INCREASE IS MORE SIGNIFICANT WHEN VIEWED AGAINST A 2.8 PER CENT DROP IN ENROLMENT IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS, MR LAM SAID.

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"THE ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE IS TO PAY FOR THE PROGRAMMES IN ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF SCHOOL EDUCATION THROUGH INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF TEACHERS AND REDUCTION IN CLASS SIZES, PLUS THE NEW INITIATIVES ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR IN HIS 1993 POLICY ADDRESS, HE ADDED.

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SOME OF THE SPECIFICS ARE:

$152 MILLION

$108 MILLION

$103 MILLION

+

FOR 645 ADDITIONAL TEACHERS FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO REDUCE THE RATIO OF PUPILS TO TEACHERS;

FOR THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION IN UPGRADING TEACHER EDUCATION;

- FOR REDUCING CLASS SIZES, INVOLVING 178 ADDITIONAL CLASSES AND 228 ADDITIONAL TEACHERS;

$33 MILLION

-

FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE KINDERGARTEN FEE REMISSION SCHEME:

*

$25 MILLION

FOR UPGRADING 374 GRADUATE MASTER POSTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS; AND

$18

MILLION

-

FOR UPGRADING 180 TEACHING POSTS IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS TO GRADUATE STATUS AN ADDITIONAL 800 GRADUATE TEACHERS SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

AND

FOR

/TERTIARY EDUCATION