ENG-1991 — Page 160

EDUCATION

cent of capital expenditure. Public funds cover about 90 per cent of the capital cost of an aided primary or secondary school and virtually the full cost of tertiary institution campuses; the entire recurrent cost of providing tuition from Primary 1 to Secondary 3; and about 85 per cent of the recurrent cost from Secondary 4 up to degree level.

Non-profit-making kindergartens are eligible for rent and rates rebates, and parents of kindergarten pupils may apply for assistance towards fees. Private primary schools and pupils receive no public funding, on the grounds that there are sufficient places in the public sector; but private secondary schools receive public funds under two schemes. Under the Direct Subsidy Scheme, any private secondary school meeting a specified standard may receive a recurrent subsidy related to the cost of an aided school place and the fee charged by the school; while secondary schools in the Bought Place Scheme, from which the government buys places to make up shortfalls in government and aided schools, are being given financial assistance to raise their standards.

The site for an aided school is granted to the sponsor by private treaty at a nominal premium, except where it lies within a Housing Authority estate, in which case the school operates under a tenancy agreement between the sponsor and the authority. It is possible that international schools meeting specified criteria may also be granted land at a nominal premium.

Student Finance

To ensure that no child is deterred by financial constraints from pursuing education, several schemes of assistance are available. These are administered by the Student Financial Assistance Agency.

Student Travel Subsidy

Students aged between 12 and 25, who have not yet completed a first degree, can apply for a means-tested subsidy to meet part of their travelling expenses between home and school. During the year, 160 475 students received assistance totalling $117 million.

Textbook Assistance

Primary or junior secondary students who need help to meet the cost of textbooks and stationery may apply for a grant. During the year 102 961 students received a total of $28.8 million.

Fee Remission

The policy on fee levels beyond Secondary 3 aims to balance the benefit to the community and the benefit to the individual of the higher level of education. The Fee Remission Scheme enables needy students to progress beyond Secondary 3 without placing an undue financial burden on parents, by relieving them of half or all the standard school fee. During the year 38 113 students benefitted under the scheme.

Local Student Finance Scheme

Full-time students in local tertiary institutions are eligible, on the basis of evident need, for grants to cover faculty expenses, tuition fees and student union dues, and for loans to meet their living expenses. During the year, 12 740 students received loans totalling $147.8 million. Of these, 10 113 also received grants totalling $77.6 million.

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