TNAG-1073-FCO40-1323-Policy-of-the-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-including-1981 — Page 301

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Places in Forms I

5.17

-

III

The 1974 White Paper indicated the government's intention of

providing subsidised junior secondary places for all Primary 6 leavers.

This was achieved in September 1978 when Form I places were for the first

time allocated by reference to Primary 5 and Primary 6 internal assessments

monitored by an academic aptitude test (the Secondary School Places Allocation

scheme). Concurrently with the 100 per cent provision of places at the

junior secondary level the government abolished all tuition fees in junior

secondary forms in all Chinese Middle and Anglo-Chinese schools in the

public sector. This was followed in September 1979 by the abolition of

"tong fai" (subscription charges) and similar charges in junior secondary

classes in the majority of government and aided schools, thus rendering

junior secondary education in the public sector free and universal (except

for English schools). Financial provision is therefore included for 84,600

Form I places in September 1981, allowing for a build-up in the number of

Form II and III places to accommodate the increased enrolment as pupils

progress through the junior forms:

-

Forms I III combined

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

Demand (based on

276,619

266,230

P6 leavers)

254,520 246,035

249,630

Planned provision

(% of places):

Government

6.5

6.7

7.3

7.8

7.9

Aided

40.4

41.9

66.2

71.5

74.3

Bought/assisted

places

53.1

51.4

26.5

20.7

17.8

Places in Forms IV V

5.18

The second main objective in the 1974 White Paper was the provision

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