TNAG-0473-FCO40-538-Hong-Kong-government-policy-on-education-1974 — Page 224

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retirement, leaving the profession or other cause. But

it is a conservative estimate and does not take account

of a higher ratio of staff to pupil required in Form VI;

nor does it allow for the staffing needs of private

schools save to the extent to which these provide "bought"

places.

6.

How is this heavy additional demand to be met?

The two universities will, in consequence of their approved

expansion between now and 1978, substantially increase

their output of graduates in the next few years. It is fair

to assume that there will be a proportionate rise in the

numbers of graduates who will enter the teaching profession.

Nevertheless, it is clear that the demand for graduate

teachers, as set out in Part I of Table I, cannot be met

from local sources.

7.

One solution would be to recruit graduate teachers

from abroad. The prospects of doing so in sufficient

numbers are not encouraging. In any event, it would probably

be more costly than present arrangements which would both be

beyond our financial resources and produce a divisive effect

within the teaching profession in Hong Kong. The solution

therefore, lie in a more sparing use of our limited

number of graduate teachers and a rapid expansion of

training facilities for non-graduate teachers.

must,

8.

The proposed method would be to utilise trained

non-graduate teachers in the planned expansion of the

junior secondary forms (that is, Forms I - III). While it

is not Government's intention to alter the present

arrangements in existing schools, future vacancies in these

forms should also be filled by trained non-graduate teachers.

/If ...