Primary Schools
Primary education is not free but in government-aided schools fees are low and the maximum rate of fee remission up 20% is allowed where standard fees are charged. Standard fees vary according to whether the school is in an urban ($40 p.a.) or in a rural district (10 p.a.). Aided schools which have been built and equipped with the help of a loan are allowed to charge a "subscription", over and above the standard fee, to facilitate loan repayments. In September, 1968, a Textbook and Stationery Grant was introduced in the Government and subsidised schools to give financial assistance to needy parents.
Fees in private schools are generally higher than those in government and aided schools. Places are available for all children of primary school age who desire them. It must be admitted however that this position has been achieved largely by operating the schools on & bi-sessional basis. At 31.3.69, 697,200 children were enrolled in the Chinese primary day schools, about 68.4% of them in government and aided schools. Another 25,700 pupils attended evening and night schools. Within the last ten years 585 new primary school buildings and extensions have been completed, providing new places for just over 468,155 pupils.
It is intended to extend the number of places in government and aided schools as rapidly as possible, and to intorduce a scheme of subsidized places in private schools, so as to provide for all children who seek such places. For planning purposes a target figure was set in 1965 to provide by 1970/71 such subsidized places for 80% of all children of primary school age. Considerable progress has already been made towards this goal.
of six.
The six year primary school course is normally begun at the age The aim of the course is to provide a good general education.
On completion of the primary course, suitable pupils are selected for places in government, aided and assisted secondary schools on the results of the Secondary School Entrance Examination.
It is proposed to cater for the needs of those children who fail to gain admission to a secondary school, by increasing the provision of various types of vocational training and by granting financial assistance to agencies prepared to establish one-year or two-year course of training either directed towards specific industries or occupations or of a more general character. Government wholly maintains and runs 5 primary schools for English- speaking children; enrolment at 31.3.69 was 2,100. The age of entry is five and primary education on the pattern of English state education is provided. Fees at $460 p.a. are much higher than in the Chinese primary schools. It is intend that new schools in the future shall be provided in the aided sector. One such school in Kowloon (Beacon Hill School) has already been opened and in March, 1969 had 294 pupils. There is also one private English with 373 pupils.
*of the maximum theoretical fee income in
operating classes
Secondary Schools
As in the primary sector, standard tuition fees are charged in government and aided schools, but they vary according to the district, and aided schools are allowed to charge additional "subscriptions". In Government schools fees are $450 p.a. (Urban) and $220 p.a. (Rural) for sixth forms, $400p.a. (Urban) and $200 p.a. (Rural) for Form 1 to V. A suburban area fee is to be introduced later. Fees in government secondary technical schools are $450 p.m. (F.VI), $400 p.a. (F. I-V) in the urban areas and $200 p.a. (F.I -V) and $200(F.VI)
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