TNAG-1611-FCO40-2214-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 133

10

5

Supplementary to Questiion No. 3

in Legco Meeting on 2.12.87

MR. YEUNG: Sir, having regard to the normal size of 40-42

pupils per class, will the Secretary state what the appropriate

student-teacher ratios are for class picnics, swimming classes

and physical education classes conducted outside the school

premises and whether these ratios should be strictly complied

with, as it appears under the present circumstances that there

are not enough teachers for supervision or instruction purposes?

SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPPOWER: Sir, whether there is a

specific ratio for an activity depends, as I said, on the

nature of the activity. For specific activities which require

close supervision there are specific ratios suggested, but for

picnics it a felt

its

more appropriate to leave this to the л discretion of the individual school. The Education Department

did, in fact, recently have a discussion with representatives

of schools in which this was discussed at great length. There

was some disagreement as to what the appropriate ratio should

be, but it seems clear it does depend a bit on the nature of

the picnic, the nature of the

of the children, where the picnic is,

how dangerous the location is and so

So the schools are

given guidance but the discretion as to the exact numbers does

rest with the Headmaster or Headmistress of the school. The

Edcuation Department does believe that staff ratios in school

are adequate to provide teachers to supervise such activities.

on.