ENG-1992 — Page 150

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 some private secondary schools receive public funds under two schemes. Under the Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS), 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 (BPS), from which the government buys places to make up shortfalls in government and aided school places, are 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. International schools meeting specified criteria may also be granted land at a nominal premium.

During the year, the government continued to develop a linked series of computer models for the financing of education. These will help planners to evaluate the resource implications of different policy scenarios, as an aid to policy formulation.

Student Finance

The Student Financial Assistance Agency administers various financial assistance schemes and scholarships, described below. The aim of financial assistance is to ensure as far as possible that students are not denied access to education because of lack of means. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit.

Student Travel Subsidy

Students aged between 12 and 25 in full time study up to first degree level are eligible for a subsidy to cover part of their study-related travelling expenses. During the year, 172 735 students received assistance totalling $131 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 102 440 students received a total of $29.6 million.

Fee Remission

The policy on fees for public-sector places beyond Secondary 3 is to balance the benefit to the community and to the individual of the higher level of education. The Fee Remission Scheme, by relieving students of half or all the standard school fee, helps to ensure that those in need can continue their education without undue financial strain on their families. During the year 49 585 students benefited under the scheme.

A kindergarten fee remission scheme was introduced in August 1990. Assistance available ranges from 25 to 100 per cent of the weighted average of fees charged by non-

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