Sessional_Paper_1927 — Page 180

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8. The Vernacular Normal School at Taipo, established in 1926 in order to train teachers for New Territory vernacular schools, charges no fee.

9. King's College from September 1926 charged a uniform $5.00, but its lower school pupils, since their transference to Ellis Kadoorie School pay $3.00 only.

B. Recommendations.

1. We recommend that the Upper School (Classes 1, 2 and 3) of Queen's College and King's College should pay a higher fee than the Lower School.

The principle of charging more for the Upper. School is well understood in this Colony. It is the practice in many of the Grant Schools and private schools.

Economically it is justified by the comparatively greater cost of running the upper classes. Chemical Laboratories and their equipment, for example, are expensive items not enjoyed by the Lower School.

2. The Lower School (Classes 4 to 8) of Queen's College and King's College should pay the same fee as the District Schools (Ellis Kadoorie, Wantsai, Yaumati), on the ground that they give the same type and degree of instruction, and follow the same syllabus.

3. More free Scholarships should be granted for admission to Class 3 of Queen's College and King's College of boys from Class 4 of those, and the District Schools. The object would be to encourage boys of promising ability whose parents could not other- wise afford to let them remain at school. The award would largely depend on the recom- mendation of the Headmaster and Class Master concerned.

The present number of free scholarships is 20 (full) and 5 (half). This might be increased to a total of 35 (full), subject to revision after experience. This would involve an annual potential loss of $1,200, on the basis of our recommendation in the next para- graph.

4. The fee for the Upper School of Queen's College and King's College should be increased from $60 to $96 a year.

5. The fee for the Lower School of Queen's College and King's College and for the three District Schools should be $60. This means no increase in respect of Queen's College and King's College Lower Schools, but an increase of $27 a year for the District Schools, which at present pay $3 a month for 11 months only. We consider that pay- ment should be in respect of the full 12 months.

6. The Indian School should continue to pay $2.00 a month, but that payment should be for 12 months (= $24) instead of for 11 months (= $22) as at present.

The pupils at this school as a rule are sons of poor parents. Their case is different from that of Chinese parents who can pick and choose among many schools according to their purse, and neighbourhood. The Indians have no other school in this Colony, and are often obliged to incur travelling expenses in addition.

7. Gap Road School should continue to pay $2.00 a month, but should pay for 12 months instead of 11. ($24 instead of $22 a year.) This is a junior school, with only three Classes, 6, 7 and 8. No European is on its staff.

8. Belilios Public School for girls should pay $36 throughout. In October 1926 the Board was of opinion that the Upper School (Classes 1, 2 and 3) should pay more than the Lower School, but in view of the fact that there are less than 40 pupils in the Upper School, we think that a higher rate would not be worth while.

At present this school pays $2.00 a month for 11 months. We would make it $3.00 a month for 12 months.

9. No change should be made in the fees payable at the Country Schools, the Vernacular Middle School or the Vernacular Normal School for Women. (see Part 1 ss. 7 and 8).

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