ENG-1977 — Page 95

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EDUCATION

A White Paper on Rehabilitation Services published in October, 1977, recom- mended considerable expansion of special education over the next decade. The main aims are to expand screening and group testing services to cover all primary school pupils; to increase to 50,800 the number of places in special schools and special classes in ordinary schools; to increase training to ensure that all who are involved in providing special education are suitably trained; and to provide services that will enable handicapped children to develop their capabilities to the full.

Emphasis also is being placed on pre-primary and primary education. The Governor announced to the Legislative Council in October that the Secretary for Social Services would chair a steering committee that would review all aspects of primary education, and the services for children below primary school age in kinder- gartens and child care centres.

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The Education Department established an instrumental music unit in September to encourage the growth of instrumental music among young people. A distinguished violinist and conductor from the United Kingdom has been appointed music con- sultant.

The first stage of a reorganisation aimed at streamlining the directorate structure of the Education Department took effect in September, 1977. This involved the in- troduction of a unified regional, area and district administration of kindergartens, primary and secondary schools under a Schools Division, and the complete detach- ment of the Examinations Division from the department following the establishment of the Hong Kong Examinations Authority. Further stages of the reorganisation will take place within the next three years.

Kindergartens

A total of 786 kindergartens provide education for 171,879 children in the three to six-year-old age group and enrolments are rising. These private institutions, which play a significant role in the education system, are registered with the Education Department and are supervised by the Advisory Inspectorate. The government gives assistance by providing reliable bodies with grants of Crown land, exempting non- profit-making groups from paying rates, allocating premises in public housing estates, and providing teacher training and related facilities. It also makes freely available professional advice to school managers, teachers, parents and members of the public.

Primary Education

Primary education has been free in all government schools and in most aided schools for the past six years. In the few aided primary schools where fees continue to be charged, fees may be remitted for up to 20 per cent of the total enrolment to meet cases of genuine hardship. To help needy parents further, an annual textbook and stationery grant of $30 a pupil is available to 20 per cent of pupils enrolled in govern- ment and aided primary schools. A minority of parents continues to send their children to private primary schools, although places are available for them in the public

sector.

There has been a downward trend in primary school enrolment in recent years following a decline in the birth rate. In September, 1977, primary school enrolments totalled 574,842, compared with 607,990 the previous year. In addition, 16,425