Sessional_Paper_1932 — Page 70

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Chinese Classics form a necessary part of the education of Chinese youths, it would seem better to raise the standard of Chinese in Anglo-Chinese schools which are attended by the many, than to concentrate on one school which is attended by the comparatively few. The school costs Government $47.000 per annum, exclusive of the cost of pension rights, etc., of the staff. The Commissioners suggest that the school be handed over to private interests. There are many Chinese gentlemen of standing in the Colony and elsewhere who are interested in the school. Doubtless they will see that it is

maintained.

MEDICAL OFFICERS OF SCHOOLS.

22. The Commissioners recommend that the posts of two Medical Officers of Schools and three School Nurses be abolished. When money is scarce many desirable things have to go, in order to preserve the essential things. In the opinion of the Commissioners the Medical Officers of Schools are desirable but not essential. They would substitute another system, whereby every new pupil would be required to produce a medical certificate, which should be in a standard form, before he would be permitted to enter school. This scheme would tend to bring the schools more directly under the aegis of the Director of Medical and Sanitary Services, and would aid him in his plans for the betterment of the general health of the Colony.

CONDITIONS OF HOME LEAVE.

23. One of the reasons why European staff is expensive is because they go home on leave every four years, which in addition to the cost of passages entails the employment of a larger staff than would otherwise be required. The position is aggravated by the fact that officers wish to go home in the spring, irrespective of when they are actually due for leave. and return in the autumn. As a result the department is overstaffed in the winter, when very few officers are away on leave. The Commissioners appreciate the desirability from the health point of view of going home in the summer, but they would point out that every summer the teaching staff of the Education Department receive eight weeks' leave, which enables them to avoid the worst of the hot weather in Hong Kong. It would be no great hardship to require them to take their home leave when it became due, irrespective of the time of the year.

TRAINING AND STUDY LEAVE FOR BRITISH TEACHERS.

24. The Commissioners record with regret their disapproval of the existing agree- ment whereby this Colony bears the expense of a year's training in education in England for University graduates after they have been appointed by the Crown for service in Hong Kong. Such a scheme would seem to be somewhat one-sided, unless the Government offered to refund training fees to those candidates who, when they are appointed by the Crown for service in Hong Kong, have already taken the year's training course at their own expense. The Commissioners consider that under no circumstances should the Hong Kong Government finance the training of teachers in England in preparation for service in Hong Kong,

25. It has been observed that an officer of the Education Department has recently been granted study leave, and study fees up to the maximum of £50. Presumably this study leave will exceed in length the ordinary vacation leave. The Commissioners feel that if an officer's services can be spared for study leave without incurring extra expense to the Government in the employment of a temporary teacher for that period. then either the Department is over-staffed. or the loss of the officer's services must be detrimental to the best interests of the pupils, who are supposed to depend upon the good offices of the Crown,

26. The Commissioners would suggest that in future such officers as are appointed from England should only be appointed if they are already fully qualified, and should not be permitted to obtain these qualifications during their service in the Government and in whole or part at Government expense.

CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT of Lady TEACHERS.

27. The contract between the Crown and an officer of the Education Department is for a probationary period of three years. At any time during her service, whether