TNAG-0251-FCO40-287-Education-policy-of-government-of-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 86

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[DR CHUNG] Appropriation Bill-resumption of debate on second

reading (25.2.70)

Morrison Hill Institute (which has taken more than ten years to bring to fruition) most perturbing. I understand, in fact, that the original programme of two additional institutes by 1971 and a further two by 1972 has fallen by the wayside and that a new programme to provide for this very important area of technical education does not envisage the first of these institutions seeing the light of day until 1973. Even then there is no assurance that the revised programme will not be further delayed. I shall be glad if my honourable Friend, the Director of Education, would explain the reasons for this deplorable delay and give assurance of no further postponement.

The delay that has taken place in the provision of technical institutes fills me with apprehension as to the likelihood of other technical and related education ever developing in Hong Kong. In the hope, however, that I am not a lone voice or expressing a forlorn hope, I would like to speak briefly on the subject of pre-vocational education. It has taken us far too long to reach the target of universal primary education for the children of Hong Kong. Let us pray that the next stage-provision of universal immediate post-primary education-will not take so long.

At present there is a body of growing opinion that Hong Kong should aim for, at least, the universal provision of three years of post- primary education making a total of nine years minimum free education for every child who wants it. However, there are also two different proposals from two expert groups for the programme relating to the three-year post-primary level. One group suggests that sufficient junior vocational schools offering three-year courses should be estab- lished to provide for about one-third of the primary school leavers. The contents of the courses will be approximately 50% theoretical and 50% practical. At the end of this vocational course, the graduates can seek immediate employment in industry and commerce, or enter engineering apprenticeship for craftsmen training, or pursue technical education in technical institutes such as the Morrison Hill Technical Institute. The other group, however, prefers a rather different approach. It suggests that the course for the first three years of all the present secondary grammar schools be changed so that it will include about 20% instruc- tion in practical subjects.

I believe that the public would like to know the view of Govern- ment concerning this pre-vocational education policy and the amount of funds required for the decade of 1970's. It is hoped that my honour- able Friend, the Director of Education, will make a statement in his reply to this effect.

Coming to the 1970-71 expenditure budgeted for the Labour Division of the Labour Department, it is very disappointing to see