ENG-1969 — Page 138

EDUCATION

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1969. The standard fees now chargeable in the public primary schools in urban and rural areas (which cater for the needs of about 70 per cent of the primary school population) are $20 and $10 per annum respectively. The reduction of fees, together with complete or partial fee remission of 20 per cent of primary school places for government and subsidised schools ensures that no child is deprived of a place in a public school solely through the inability of his parents to pay the fees. It is declared policy that if at any time it should appear that existing funds are inadequate to meet the demand for remission of fees in public primary schools in all cases of genuine hardship, the Government will authorise further expenditure, even if it means that the rate of remission is raised to 30 per cent or higher.

In addition there is a scheme of textbook and stationery grants for holders of free places. Grants are made to schools to the value of $20 per free place holder per annum to enable them to be supplied with free textbooks and stationery.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Twenty-eight special schools cater for about 3,000 blind, deaf, physically handicapped, mentally handicapped and maladjusted children. In addition, there are 20 experimental classes for 400 slow-learning children in government primary schools. Over 200 physically handicapped children under the supervision of the Special Education Section are attending ordinary government and subsidised primary schools. The Special Education Section runs an audiometric screening programme in government primary schools. In addition the section provides diagnostic services which include audiologic testing, psychological testing, educational assessment, and speech screening, as well as remedial services in auditory training and speech therapy. During the year these services have assisted approximately 6,000 children. The section also runs in-service training courses for teachers of special schools and special classes.

SECONDARY EDUCATION

There are four types of secondary schools: Anglo-Chinese grammar schools, Chinese middle schools, secondary technical