TNAG-0658-FCO40-807-Policy-of-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-1977 — Page 111

2.

Seven community centres operated by the Social Welfare Department provide an approximate total 600 seats;

3. This year the Education Department opened evening study rooms in 21 Govern-

ment primary schools from March to mid-July providing a total of 2610 seats; 4. Approximately 6280 seats are provided by over 31 voluntary agencies.

Between April and early July, about 200,000 students participate in public exam- inations: Secondary School Entrance Examination, School Certificate Examination, and Hong Kong University and Chinese University Matriculation Examinations. The proportion of students preparing for public examinations (200,000) compared to study room places (11,000) is 20:1. The total number of students (1,200,000) compared to study room places is 100:1.

The lack of sufficient study room places causes great competition and struggle to obtain study room seats. for example, the City Hall Library Study Room has a total seating capacity of 112. From 27th April to 29th June, the room is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. At 6:15 a.m.,

112 students are issued tags for admittance at 7:00 a.m. to the 112 study room seats. Some arrive at 5 a.m., desperate to secure one of the limited places,

The overcrowded and noisy environment drives students to search everywhere for quiet places to study, even to parks and the airport.

૬.

Nead for Tutorial Assistance

86.2% of the students said they need tutorial assistance with homework. EAG feels this is a sad reflection on the quality of our educational system and that the specific reasons for a need for tutorial assistance need deeper study.

Many teachers and school social workers in resettlement estate schools have found that students' general academic level, particularly in the D and E streams, is 1 - 2 years behind that of students in other schools. They attribute this to a combination of problems: excessively noisy and overcrowded living conditions, parents' low educa- tion level and their lack of ability and time to assist with homework difficulties. These combined with students often having difficulty completing excessive homework assignments causes many to fall behind and feel inferior. EAG believes that providing the students with a quiet place to study and tutorial assistance would be a big step towards helping them progress at a more average rate of study and heighten their self-image. Schools might co-operate with social agencies in their area, recruiting volunteer tutors or part-time workers to assist in the study rooms,

Some schools in resettlement estates have opened evening study rooms for their own students, providing an example for other schools to follow. Most schools face two problems in opening for evening study facilities: management and funds.

1. The management problem could be solved by hiring senior form students, post

secondary students, part-time teachers or voluntary workers.

2. The funds problem could be solved by the Education Department covering all

utilities and maintenance fees, staff salaries, and transportation fees for voluntary workers.

III. EAG'S RECOMMENDATIONS

A. The Education Department should encourage Government aided primary and secondary schools in resettlement estates to open certain classrooms for evening study (7 10 p.m.) beginning with the September, 1977 term.

B. The Education Department should provide funds to cover all utilities and mainte-

nance fees, transportation for voluntary workers, and staff salaries.

C.

If these study rooms prove useful and workable, the system should be expanded to other public housing estates and other areas throughout Hongkong.