TNAG-0658-FCO40-807-Policy-of-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-1977 — Page 110

minimum living space recommended by the United Nations. Over 500,000 residents still live in even more primitive and smaller Mark I and II estates. The mah-jong level in

such congested living makes concentration on homework nearly impossible.

46.2% stated that the lack of supervision and tutorial assistance at home was a great difficulty. This is closely related to the difficult level of textbooks and the generally low educational level and long working hours of the parents. In his inauguration speech at Hong Kong University in 1969, Professor K. Hopkins pointed out that 62% of resettlement estate residents were manual labourers, hawkers and general service workers. Due to limited educational backgrounds and engagement in earning livings for their families, they had very limited time and ability to supervisa school work.

The discrepancy between the educational environment of resettlement children and those in wealthy or middle income families with private tutors for homework and examination preparation is overwhelming. Yet, resettlement children are generally required to compete and be examined on the same educational basis as wealthy children,

Use of Available Study Rooms

C.

Although around 40 community centres have study rooms, only 66.2% of the sampling is aware of one in their area, 76% do not go to them because the rooms are far from their homes and their families are afraid for them to travel in the dark. Others do not go because of inconvenience, fear of teddy boys and lack of supervision. These findings may help explain reported under-usage of study rooms operated in 21 Govern- ment primary schools outside resettlement estates.

D.

Urgent Need for Study Rooms

68% said they would use a study room if opened within their estate. Of the 32% who said they would not go, a substantial number were primary 3 students who seem to feel they are too young to be away from home during evenings and their homework and exam pressures aren't so great. As noted earlier, the survey did not include secondary students which are in even greater need of study room facilities.

EAG has urged the Education Department to open rooms for study in schools within public housing estates because:

1. Schools within the estates are readily accessible to estate children;

2.

3.

Parents would be more willing to allow children to study in a room within their estate;

Most public housing estates have Mutual Aid Committee security patrols so parents would not worry so much about their children's safety.

Figures available indicate that the total number of study room seats available at present is 11,000:

1. Urban Service Library Study Rooms have a total 1510 seats;