23
can be given for this quota to be exceeded. In practice the grant does not
cover the cost of textbooks, which have recently been severely affected by
inflation.
In
Moreover, there is at present no textbook grant at the junior
secondary level, where the cost of textbooks is considerably greater.
connection with the current review of primary education and pre-primary
services, consideration has been given to two possible courses of action -
either to lend books to pupils free of charge (as in the United Kingdom)
or to increase the textbook grant; however, the 1980 Green Paper has made
no firm recommendations on this, suggesting instead that the whole question
of the supply of textbooks to pupils undergoing free and compulsory
education should be reviewed.
5.42
Subsidised travel facilities exist for bona fide students: the
administration of the present scheme, however, has not been entirely satis-
factory for a variety of reasons, and an improved scheme is to be introduced
in September 1981. Details are still under consideration.
5.43
E: Higher education fees
Higher education fees were reviewed by the government towards
the end of 1980. Previously, the setting of fee levels for university
places had been carried out (since September 1974) on a quadrennial or
triennial grant period basis, while the Polytechnic had rather more ad hoc
arrangements. Before the recent review, university fees had been last
reviewed in 1977 when fees for the ensuing triennium were set at the
following levels:
1978-79
$1,850 p.a.
1979-80
$1,950 p.a.
1980-81
$2,050 p.a.
5.44
and in 1976-77 Polytechnic fees had been set at $700 for new students on
full-time courses, increasing to $1,000 in 1977-78 and subsequent years.
The government considers it reasonable for students to be asked
to pay a fair proportion of their institutions' recurrent expenditure.
The quantification of 'fair' is difficult but the contribution fees made
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.