XN000022-1994-10-05 — Page 34

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1994

"WE HAVE SET AMBITIOUS GOALS FOR BOTH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

OUTLINED TO THIS

THE

"I BELIEVE THAT THE PROGRAMME 1 HAVE JUST COUNCIL OFFERS OUR BEST CHANCE OVER THE LONG RUN OF STABILISING PRICE CYCLE AND ENABLING MORE FAMILIES TO FIND THE MODERN, COMFORTABLE HOMES THEY EXPECT, AT PRICES AND RENTS THEY CAN AFFORD."

CATERING FOR NEEDS OF SPECTAL GROUPS IN EDUCATION

HONG AS

KONG HAS A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF EDUCATION

FOCUS AND STANDARDS ARE RISING, THE GOVERNMENT NOW HAS TO LEVELS

NEEDS

RT OF SPECIAL GROUPS, THE GOVERNOR, THE THE

HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

AT

ALL

ON

IN HIS ANNUAL POLICY ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR PATTEN SAID THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER WOULD PRESENTING

EDUCATION INITIATIVES IN HIS COMMITMENTS.

GROUPS.

11 NEW

1994

BE POLICY

SOME OF THESE INITIATIVES WOULD CATER FOR THE NEEDS OF SPECIAL

THEY INCLUDED:

*

THE OFFERING OF BETTER QUALITY FOR THE VERY YOUNGEST CHILDREN. A SUM OF $163 MILLION WOULD BE SPENT OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS TO IMPROVE THE TRAINING OF KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS. THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RAISE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRAINING COURSES FOR 1.130 SERVING KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS.

STUDENTS WITH SEVERE LEARNING PROBLEMS OR WHO LACK MOTIVATION WOULD BE OFFERED MORE HELP. A SUM OF $340 MILLION WOULD BE SPENT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO BUILD THE SPECIAL SCHOOLS THEY NEEDED.

* THE GOVERNMENT WOULD DO MORE TO HELP STUDENTS WITH LIMITED

FAMILY MEANS TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION. AN EXTRA MILLION IN LOANS AND GRANTS WOULD BE PROVIDED OVER THE

:

FOUR YEARS, WHICH WOULD BENEFIT OVER 6,000 STUDENTS UNIVERSITIES, POLYTECHNICS AND COLLEGES.

$325 NEXT IN

MR PATTEN ALSO NOTED THAT PROVISION IN EDUCATION WOULD BE RAISED BY 4.5 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS NEXT YEAR ON TOP OF THIS YEAR'S RECURRENT EXPENDITURE OF ALMOST $24 BILLION.

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