XN000022-1997-02-19 — Page 35

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(b)

(c)

(d)

whether the Government still maintains that the above proposal is necessary and worthwhile;

whether consideration will be given to formulating policy to implement the above proposal; if so, of the estimated amount of funds to be allocated for this purpose, and whether sufficient funds will be provided for each primary school; and

whether a relevant programme for the implementation of this proposal has been drawn up; if so, what the details are?

Reply:

Mr President,

In the light of the public response to the Education Commission Report No. 5, the Education Commission recommended and the Government accepted in 1994 to provide a library/learning centre in new primary schools and, where possible, in existing schools.

(a)

(b)

45 public sector primary schools have been provided with a library under Phase 1 of the School Improvement Programme (SIP). Another 57 public sector primary schools have used private funds to set up a library in their school premises.

As mentioned above, it has been the Government's policy to provide a school library in all public sector primary schools where possible. We believe that school libraries play an important role in improving the quality of education by promoting good reading habits in pupils, improving pupils' language proficiency, widening pupils' knowledge base, and fostering pupils' ability to study independently.