TNAG-1735-FCO40-2448-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 41

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - 25 May 1988

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Hong Kong, primary school teachers are also eligible to apply. Will Govern- ment inform this Council which one of the above two sets of entry requirements should be adopted and whether as a kind of incentive, improvements will be made to the career structure of those primary school heads, senior teachers and teachers who have successfully completed the course?

SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER: Sir, the Education Commission recommended the development of a bachelor degree programme to promote leadership and managerial ability in primary and special schools. This recom- mendation has been accepted by the Government.

The introduction of a four-year part-time bachelor degree programme in primary education by the Chinese University of Hong Kong from September 1988 is in line with this decision. Selection of candidates for the course will be a matter for the university, but because of the purpose of the course, we expect that priority will be given to school heads and senior teachers.

Turning now to the second half of the question, we propose to regrade headship posts in primary schools with 17 or more classes in 1992, when the first group graduates from the course. Subject to the provision of funds by the Finance Committee of this Council, the heads of government and aided primary schools with 24 or more classes will then be eligible for a maximum salary three points higher than their present maximum, but these three new salary points will only be available to those heads who have obtained the new qualification.

MR. SZETO (in Cantonese): Sir, if school heads and senior teachers take this particular course, they will be able to get their fees partly refunded. In addition, those school heads with more than 24 classes will have three more points added to their maximum salary after graduation. However, school teachers who take the same course will neither have their fees refunded nor have their career structure or pay improved. Does this mean that when you have teachers taking such courses, it is not really considered beneficial to primary school teaching?

SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER: Sir, the course is primarily designed to help school heads in their job. It is directed at them primarily.

PROF. POON: Sir, since there is a clear incentive to encourage school heads to register for the new degree course, would the Secretary inform this Council of the current enrolment rate or demand for the course? Will there be enough places to meet the demand?

SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION And ManpoweR: Sir, there have been more than 300 applications for the course, 55 of those have been from primary school heads. The number of places is 30 a year. The number of applicants is therefore greater than the number of places and that is fairly normal for any course. The size of the course cannot be extended during the coming triennium from 1988