ENG-1957 — Page 156

Chapter 8: Education

Progress in education in Hong Kong may be measured in the following figures. In 1845 there were 110 pupils receiving organized education; in 1858 the number had increased to 800; while in 1879 the number had risen to 4,000. By 1918 the enrolment was 118,000. In 1945 after the Japanese occupation there were just over 4,000; in 1957 there were 331,168 pupils of all kinds in schools in Hong Kong.

The number of schools (including kindergarten and post- secondary) and total enrolment on 30th June, 1957, were as follows:

No. of Schools

Enrolment

% of No. of Enrolment Teachers

Government Schools

54

33,505

10.74

1,026

Grant-aided Schools

20

16,863

5.40

744

Subsidized Schools

357

77,867

24.97

2,786

Private Schools

788

183,505

58.86

7,572

Special Afternoon

Classes

19,428

Totals

1,219

331,168

100

12,128

From these tables it will be seen that at present over 50% of all pupils are being educated in private schools, and that these schools in turn represent some 60% of all schools in the Colony. Since private schools, i.e. schools which do not receive Government subvention under either the Grant or Subsidy Code, also tend to charge higher fees than govern- ment or government-aided schools, their numerical pre- dominance in the educational system clearly illustrates the very great continuing public demand in the Colony for education, even at a high cost.

The Government seven-year plan to provide by the end of 1961 places for all children of primary school age has