1932, Revision of Fees to be Considered.
The estimates for 1992 for the Council's schools for Chinese children with comment. thereon by. the Treasurer and Controller were submitted to. the meeting of the Education Boavd held on Jgnuary 27, The Heads of the respective Schools ttended_ during consideration the estimates submitted by them. The Deputy Treasurer stated that these estimates had been carefully examined by the Finance Department and ay they followed closely on the lines for former years called for little comment, After enreful serum and the deletion of certain items the estimates of these schools were formally endorsed, In view of the cost involved by the maintenance of the distviet primary schools, the Deputy Treasurer enquired whether members were prepared to consider an increase in the fees therefor.
The Superintenitent of Education stated that he was conferring with the Treasurer and Controller and with, the Iteads of Schools on the question of a revision of fees for alt schools—foreign and Chinese. This was a dificult and complicated quest jon which he submitted called for the most careful consideration. He was of opinion that the matter could not be dealt with piecemeal and that recommendation dealing solely ith the fees at the district pri mary schools would be premature. In respect of there, later, schools considered that it would be unfortunate if the fees were in-* rons to ach am extent ax 10, debar the poorer close of pupils, For whose benefit they were origin. ally instituted, from attending these schools, In this respect it: was state td' that 10 per cent of the pupils at these schools were audited with out fee and that in any recommenda ion that might be put forward due consideration would be given to safe kaarding the interests of the class of pupil veferved to.
Members concurred in principle the Deputy: Treasurer that a general revision of school fees should be undertaken during the curvant years Pending a further report, it was decided to leave re commendation on this question abeyance, meanwhile the Superi tendent of Education was requested fo" give' this matter his eanly attention marder that definite proposals might be placed before the Ronrd prior tothe end of the Spring building construction would be contingent upon the necessary funds being available, a report submitted, the Superintendent of Education stated that the erection of this school was sanctioned by the Council in 1924 but that for various reasons the project had not materialized, In view of the urgency and importance of this requirement he was unable to support the proposal that the matter be again deferred and he iggested that the whole question be further reviewed by the Cour Members strongly deprecated the delay which would occur in the provision of this new school if ite eommencement were contingent upon the completion in the ordinary course of a new Mental Hospital.
They accordingly unanimously recommended that the Council should, in conjunction with the Hositaly Commission and other propriate Committees, investi Jand ascertain whether it was sible to expedite the ere: portion of. the new Mental Hospital, sufficient for the accommodation of the existing patients, in order that the site now occupied by the Mental Ward might be released for school purpose The Commissioner of Public Works also suggested that certain of the existing of the former Vietork Home mi gin. porary use secondary School or Chinese Girls. 'The Deputy Con missioner stated that whilst these buildings could not Ue regained us ideal for the purpose they were as suitable as any private" house it might be possible to lease. He agreed however that on' account of their close proximity to the site selected for the erection of the new Thomax Hanbury Girls School the noise nuisance might become acute with the commencement of building operations. It should also be noted that these buildings possessed no modern sanitation facilities, The Superintendent of Education observed that under the programme the pro.
Secondary School for Girls was not called for until the end of 1984, The most urgent needs at the moment were the provision of a permanent building for the existing Secondary Girls School and for more primary school buildings. He therefore suggested that consideration of this proposal be deferred until it had been ascertained whether the Board's requirements in the matter of the provision of additional primary Schools was likely to be met. In the meantime he suggested it would be advisable for the Education Depart. ment to secure 2 lien on the use of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.