TNAG-1012-FCO40-1262-Address-by-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--at-t-1981 — Page 42

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ive

Overall Review of Education

70.

The Overall Review of our education system recommended by the

Board of Education has commenced.

The Panel of Visitors assisted by

two Special Advisers will follow the well-established practices of the

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in

examining the education system of its member-countries. Its findings

are expected next summer.

Tertiary Education

71.

.

[:

Following advice that our existing growth plans for the

Universities may be inadequate, as an interim measure, the Government

increased the annual growth rate from 3% to 4%. It also appointed a

committee to conduct a comprehensive review of post-secondary and

technical education. The committee's report has subsequently been

discussed with the University and Polytechni. Grants Committee and it

will shortly be considered by the panel conducting the overall review

A

of education. The Government will then draft a programme for the

development of this whole area. While I am mindful of the high

percentage of the education budget already devoted to tertiary education,

I am in no doubt that our output of technicians, higher technicians and

graduates needs to be increased, though to what extent and in which

i

institutions and faculties needs very careful consideration.

72.

Meantime, the Government is improving the position by making

better use of some existing institutions. With the agreement of the

0

Governors of the Baptist College a bill will be introduced this session

to make better arrangements for its future development.

/73...