TNAG-0740-FCO40-944-Quarterly-progress-reports-from-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 179

Subject

EDUCATION

Purpose

SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCH PROGRESS REPORT 1st February 1978 to 30th April 1978

Progress made and present position

Part I

Major issues

Next quarter targets

機密

CONFIDENTIAL

1. Secondary School

Expansion

Programme

2. Review of Senior Secondary and Tertiary Education

To expand and improve secondary education to meet the 1974 White Paper targets.

To prepare plans for the further development of all stages of education beyond the basic junior secondary course.

There is some slippage in the completion dates of projects mainly in the Tsuen Wan area, due to amendments to architectural building plans.

The location of the 18 schools proposed under Stage III has been agreed in principle and the Education Department has prepared a draft Finance Committee agenda item seeking funds for the construction of these schools.

At a meeting on 13th March, the Governor instructed that consideration should be given to the form of the White Paper including the role of the post-secondary colleges, and that the establishment of an independent commission to assess the academic standing of the post- secondary colleges should be deferred meantime. The Secretary for Social Services has held separate meetings to discuss the Green Paper with representatives of the Baptist College, the Hong Kong Polytechnic and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. A team from the Home Affairs Department and the University of Hong Kong supervised a survey of the opinions of teachers and school principals, students, parents and employers on aspects of the Green Paper and the results of this survey have been studied.

An interdepartmental working party under the Director of Education's chairmanship has been established to prepare the White Paper and has held five meetings. A lecturer from the University of London visited Hong Kong from 23rd February to 16th March to advise on key aspects. An outline of the White Paper has been prepared for submission to the Governor in

early May.

To continue to monitor progress.

To put the proposals to the Finance Committee in May.

To prepare a full draft of the White Paper.

機密

CONFIDENTIAL