ENG-1975 — Page 85

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EDUCATION

inspectorate. The government gives assistance in the form of grants of Crown land to reliable bodies; exemption from payment of rates for non-profit-making kinder- gartens; the allocation of premises in public housing estates; and the provision of teacher training and further education facilities. It also makes freely available pro- fessional advice to school managers, teachers, parents and members of the public.

Primary Education

The great majority of primary schools use Chinese as the language of instruction. English is studied as a second language from the second year of the course. Ten primary schools, including five operated by the government, cater for children whose first language is English.

The target of providing a government or government-aided primary place for every child of primary school age was achieved in 1971. In recent years there has been a downward trend in the enrolment in primary schools as a result of a general decline in birth rate. The total primary day school enrolment in September 1975 was 644,192, compared with 678,563 the previous year. In addition, 16,730 pupils attended primary night schools. During the year 16,910 new primary places were provided in new and developing schools, compared with 5,474 the previous year. Further pro- vision of school places will be geared mainly to the needs of developing areas.

Since June 1968, the administration of primary schools has been decentralised and there are now seven administration areas-two in Hong Kong, three in Kowloon and two in the New Territories. More than 20 primary schools have volunteered to adopt a more informal approach to learning during the current year, following a pilot project which was launched in six government, aided and private schools in 1972.

Since September 1971, education has been free in all government Chinese primary schools and in the great majority of aided primary schools. In the few aided primary schools where fees continue to be charged, fee remission of up to 20 per cent of the total enrolment may be awarded to meet cases of genuine hardship. To further help needy parents, a textbook and stationery grant of $30 per pupil each year is available to 20 per cent of pupils enrolled in government and aided primary schools.

The Education Ordinance gives the Director of Education powers to order parents to send their children to school where it appears to him that they are with- holding their children from primary school without reasonable excuse. These powers will be exercised by the Director only after careful investigation of the family's circumstances and the need of the child. When an attendance order is made, parents have the right of appeal to a specially constituted board of review.

Special Education

Continuous progress has been made in the second five-year development pro- gramme for special education in Hong Kong. The number of special places for handicapped children increased during the year 1974-5 from 6,722 to more than 8,500. The department is continuing to expand preventive measures by providing, through the special education section, more diagnostic and remedial services. The