ENG-1961 — Page 145

EDUCATION

113

On 30th September 1961, 143 primary, 26 secondary, eight secondary modern and two technical school projects were in train; these are expected to provide another 148,865 primary, 16,400 secondary, 12,080 secondary modern and 1,000 technical places when completed.

500,000

400,000

COMPLETION OF 7 YEAR PRIMARY SCHOOL EXPANSION PROGRAMME 1954-1961

ACTUAL 1961 TOTAL 484,536

(313,000 NEW PLACES)

TARGET FOR

7 YEAR PROGRAMME,

300,000

200,000

171,536

100,000

1954 '55

'56

'57

'58

'59

'60 1961

PRIMARY EDUCATION

Primary education is of six years' duration and in Chinese schools normally begins at the age of six years, and in English schools at the age of five years. There are still many children in schools who are not within the normal primary school age range either because they were unable to get into the school at the normal age or because they stay on longer than usual to have an extra chance of passing school leaving examinations.

The majority of primary schools are Chinese schools where the medium of instruction is Cantonese. English is studied as a second language beginning in the third year, although some schools start earlier. At the end of the primary course comes the Joint Primary Six Examination, which was held for the last time in May 1961, and is to be replaced by the new Secondary Schools Entrance Examination.

Five Government primary schools provide for children whose normal language is English.