TNAG-0607-FCO40-755-Monitoring-progress-made-on-planning-papers-on-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 149

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Measures to make junior secondary education:

(1) Universal

98.

The coming year will witness a milestone in the

development of education in Hong Kong. From September 1978 there will

be a secondary school place for every primary school leaver. There

will be no more heartache for children losing their chance of secondary

education through failure in the Secondary Schools Entrance Examination

because there will be places for all. To make this possible 51,480

additional junior secondary places will have been provided since the

policy was announced in February 1976 and some 54 new schools constructed.

It is proposed to build a further 48 schools (18 more than I envisaged

last year) so as to ensure places of a proper standard for all in these

forms, and to improve regional distribution.

(ii) Compulsory

99.

The public and licnourable Kembers have long looked forward

to this objective on which, much offort and money have been and still

must be spent. I feel convinced that it is not the wish of this Council

or the public that my of the benefit of the places now provided

should be lost to any childr... throws. the indifference of parents

or pressure to talk up full-time employment instead.

therefore to introduced:

Legislation will

First, to make junior secondary education compulsory up to a

child's 15th birthday or until the Form III course has boon

completed, if that is earlier. The powers of the Director of

Education under the Education Ordinance to serve a school

attendance order will be extended to 12 to 13 year old children

with effect from September 1979 and to 14 year-olds from

/September 1980...