ENG-1995 — Page 177

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EDUCATION

Scheme introduced in September. Needy parents of kindergarten pupils may apply for fee remission. 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, a 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. Under the Bought Place Scheme, a private secondary school, from which the government buys places to make up shortfalls in government and aided school places, is given financial assistance to help raise standards.

Student Finance

The Student Financial Assistance Agency administers several schemes which ensure, as far as possible, that students are not denied access to education because of a lack of means. The agency also administers scholarships awarded on the basis of academic merit. These schemes are described below.

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 travel expenses. In the 1994–95 academic year, 166 503 students received assistance totalling $179.1 million.

Textbook-Assistance

Primary and junior secondary students who need help to meet the cost of textbooks and stationery may apply for a grant. In 1994-95, 121 774 students received assistance totalling $59.5 million.

Fee Remission

The Senior Secondary Fee Remission Scheme aims to relieve needy students from Secondary 4 upwards of half or all of the standard school fee. In 1994–95, 80 558 students were granted fee remissions amounting to $183.7 million.

The Kindergarten Fee Remission Scheme provides assistance to eligible kindergarten pupils, in the form of 50 or 100 per cent of the weighted average of fees charged by non-profit-making kindergartens, or the actual fee, whichever is lower. In 1994–95, $99.4 million was granted to 30 120 kindergarten pupils.

Local Student Finance Scheme

Full-time students studying eligible courses in UGC-funded institutions, the two technical colleges of the Vocational Training Council, the Prince Philip Dental Hospital, and the Hong Kong Institute of Education, may apply for assistance under this means-tested scheme. It provides for loans to meet living expenses and grants to cover tuition fees, academic expenses and student union fees. In the 1994–95 academic year, 29 290 students received assistance. Of these, 26 588 received grants totalling $481.4 million, and 28 857 received loans totalling $616.9 million. In the 1995-96 academic year, an Extended Loan Scheme was introduced as an additional component of the Local Student Finance Scheme with a slightly higher interest rate to benefit those applicants who would otherwise have marginally failed the means test and those successful applicants with low assistance under the main scheme.

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