ENG-1972 — Page 90

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Pre-primary Education

EDUCATION

Private kindergartens, which are not maintained or run by the government but are registered with the Education Department and supervised by the inspectorate, fell in number from 841 in the previous year to 797 in September 1972 and enrolment decreased from 132,900 to 130,894. The government gives assistance in the form of grants of Crown land to reliable bodies, the provision of accommodation in govern- ment low-cost housing estates, the waiving of rents in resettlement estates, and the provision of teacher training and further education facilities. It also makes freely available professional advice which is greatly sought after by teachers and managers.

Primary Education

The great majority of primary schools use Cantonese as the language of instruc- tion. English is studied as a second language from the second year of the course. Seven primary schools, including five operated by the government, cater for children whose first language is English.

The total primary day school enrolment in September was 728,426,_compared with 744,219 in the previous year. In addition, 19,865 pupils attended primary night schools and a limited number of special afternoon classes. During the year 26,820 new primary places were provided, compared with 39,170 in the previous year. The target of providing a government or subsidised primary place for every child of primary school age has already been reached. Further provision of school places will be geared mainly to the needs of developing areas.

As from September 1971, education is free in all government Chinese primary schools and in the majority of aided primary schools. In those aided primary schools where fees continue to be charged, a fee remission may be awarded up to 20 per cent of the total enrolment to meet cases of genuine hardship. In order to lighten further the burden of needy parents, a textbook and stationery grant to the amount of $20 per pupil per annum, is available to 20 per cent of pupils enrolled in government and aided primary schools.

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The Education Ordinance 1971 gives the Director of Education powers to enforce school attendance where parents appear to be unnecessarily withholding their children of suitable age from attending primary school. These powers will be exercised by the Director only after a careful investigation of the family's circumstances and the needs of the child. When an attendance order is made, parents have the right of appeal to a specially constituted board of review. The decision of the board is final.

Special Education

A second five-year development plan for special education was approved in August. The main aims of this development plan are threefold. Firstly, to provide 14,400 additional places for handicapped children in either special schools or special classes in ordinary schools. Secondly, to increase preventive measures by providing through the Special Education Section, more diagnostic and remedial services mainly in the fields of audiologic, psychological and speech therapy services. Thirdly, to

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