ENG-1997 — Page 197

EDUCATION

academic year, 872 students received loans totalling $7.6 million; of these, 826 also received grants totalling $5.6 million.

Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund

The fund was established to manage public donations made in memory of the late Governor, Sir Edward Youde, who died in service in 1986. It promotes education and learning among Hong Kong people, and encourages research. It disbursed $12.2 million in the 1996-97 academic year.

Eleven students were awarded new fellowships for postgraduate or scholarships for undergraduate study overseas and 35 postgraduate students received fellowships while 89 undergraduate, diploma and certificate students received scholarships to study locally. Awards were also made to four students excelling in public examinations; 17 disabled students at secondary, post-secondary and tertiary levels; and 691 outstanding senior secondary students nominated by school heads.

Other Scholarship and Assistance Schemes

Other scholarship and assistance schemes for school students are endowed by private benefactors. Many are administered by the Student Financial Assistance Agency under the Education Scholarships Fund Ordinance.

Kindergartens

In September 1997, 177 175 children, most of them aged three to five, were enrolled in 731 kindergartens. Most kindergartens operate two half-day sessions, but the number offering whole-day places is increasing.

To further improve the quality of kindergarten education, kindergarten teachers will, from September 1998, be required to possess a minimum qualification of having completed Secondary 5 with at least two passes in the HKCEE, one of which must be Chinese Language or Chinese Literature. The minimum proportion of Qualified Kindergarten Teachers in each session of a kindergarten will be 40 per cent, 50 per cent and 60 per cent by September 1998, 1999 and 2000, respectively. Such teachers have received at least 360 hours of in-service training administered by the HKIEd.

The KSS was introduced in 1995 to assist eligible kindergartens to minimise the impact on parents of fee increases resulting from the above regulatory requirements. The KSS was reviewed in early 1996 and enhancements to the scheme were introduced in the 1996-97 school year, resulting in an increase of 14 per cent to the rate of subsidy per pupil per annum and a 41 per cent adjustment to the eligibility cut-off point. For the 1997-98 school year, the rate of subsidy per pupil per annum is $880 and the eligibility cut-off point is $13,200 per pupil. To enhance the quality of kindergarten education by encouraging kindergartens to employ more trained teachers, a review of the scheme scheduled for the 1998–99 school year was advanced to the 1997-98 school year.

Primary Schools

Schooling in government and aided primary schools is free. However, about 10 per cent of parents prefer to send their children to private primary schools. Admission to Primary 1 in aided and government schools is processed through a centralised system, which was established to eliminate pressure on children caused by intense competition

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