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The White Paper recommended the provision of assisted
senior secondary places for 40% of the 15-16 age group. The arrangements I have outlined above include provision for only 29%. So in the coming year plans must be made to meet this shortfall.
Technical Institutes
The development of Technical Institutes is proceeding well. When the fifth institute, planned for Kowloon Tong, is opened in '79
there will be places for some 6,650 full-time or equivalent part-time students and for about 20,000 evening students in addition. We must watch how demand for this type of training develops as industry becomes more sophisticated and the full effect of the Apprenticeship Ordinance is felt, and be ready to expand
it if necessary.
Tertiary Education
The expansion of the polytechnic and the universities will continue. In 1975/76 there were about 7,500 full-time and equivalent part-time students at the polytechnic and this should grow to just under 10,000 by '77/78 and to 11,400 by '80/81. By then the polytechnic will be able to provide for more than 30,000 day and evening students.
In 1973 the combined student population of the Hong Kong University
and the Chinese University of Hong Kong was about 6,000. By the end of 1978
it will be 8,800 and by '81 about 10,300.
I think this rate of build-up in both the polytechnic and the universitites is the most that can be achieved without sacrificing quality, and without creating imbalance in the education system as a whole.
Review of post-junior-secondary Education
Our plans for education beyond junior secondary standard have
hitherto been dominated by the obvious need to make good under-provision
at all levels but particularly up to Form 3. However with the prospect of provision for up to Form 3 being completed, and of the number of
places at other levels I have indicated being available in the early
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.