XN000022-1996-10-16 — Page 23

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15.

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Reply:

(a)

(b)

(c)

Mr President,

(a)

(b)

since the Education Department started, from April this year, distributing forms to new arrivals from China at the Lo Wu control point to assist them in finding school places for their children, how many forms have been distributed so far, the percentage of the completed forms returned and the effectiveness of the measure in arranging for school places;

whether the ED will consider publicising the names of those schools which have persistently refused to admit such children without justifiable reasons, or taking other actions to impose sanction against such schools; and

whether consideration will be given to conducting a systematic study on the schooling needs of the children of new arrivals from China (which should include the number, age and educational standard of such children arriving in the next five years as well as the school places and related support services they need) so as to make better use of the available educational resources?

Since April 1996, the Education Department has made available information leaflets on educational services in simplified Chinese characters with reply slips for collection at the Lo Wu checkpoint and district offices. These leaflets are designed specifically for use by parents of Chinese immigrant children requiring assistance from the Education Department in school placement and other support services.

So far, over 25,000 leaflets were distributed. However, the best indicator of the demand for assistance from parents is the actual number of reply slips received by the Education Department.

Up to the end of September 1996, the Education Department received 1,164 reply slips. Based on the information provided, the Education Department has approached these parents and provided school placement assistance for 3.000 children.

The Director of Education has authority to place a pupil in a Government school to fill a vacant place. She can also exercise her authority under the Code of Aid to do so in respect of an aided school. So far, she has not found it necessary to invoke her authority for placement of immigrant children from China. This is because according to the record of the Education Department, these children are placed into schools by district education offices within 21 days on average.