XN000022-1995-11-02 — Page 47

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SEM in LegCo debate on motion of thanks

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph Wong, in the Legislative Council debate on the motion of thanks today (Thursday):

I am grateful to Members who have spoken on education and manpower issues in the Motion of Thanks on the Governor's Policy Address,

Education

There appears to be a misunderstanding that because not all important educational issues have been mentioned in the Policy Address, education is being relegated to a role of lesser importance in the overall Government policy. Nothing is further from the truth. Education has been and will continue to be at the fore front of Government's priorities. This is fully borne out by the fact that our education budget bas remained the single largest recurrent expenditure item in Government over the past five years - at around 20 - 22%. In money terms, it has grown from $16.6 billion in 1991-92 to $30.3 billion in 1995-96, representing an increase of 82% or 26% in real terms. While tertiary education has claimed a larger share of this growth to achieve the programme of expansion started in 1989, basic school education has also seen a substantial increase from $11.3 billion to $18.6 billion representing an increase of 64% or 13.3% in real terms over the same period. Against a net reduction in school population by 50,000 or 5.2% over the same period, such increase has assumed greater significance than it appears. Indeed, it has enabled our on-going improvement programme to continue including:

* the provision of additional teachers to both primary and secondary schools to

reduce class sizes;

* the introduction of special measures to assist the lower achievers and the less

motivated.

* the launching of a programme to upgrade teaching posts in both our primary

and secondary schools.

the commencement of a massive construction programme to improve the teaching and learning environment of our schools.

* the establishment of the Hong Kong Institute of Education to upgrade our

teacher education.