{Council Approves Revised Scale for Chinese 'A report has been submitted to the S.M.C. Education Board by the Chinese Education Officer furnish- As: ing particulars as to the financial standing of the parents of pupils attending the district primary schools "for Chinese. He' recemmended that the following scale of fees be adopted as from the' com mencement of the Spring Term of 1933:— each primary schoo! 10 cent. of the pupils be admitted free.
2. In the Eastern District and Ward Road Primary Schorls the fee be increased from $3 to $5 per term," ie, from $6 to $10 per 3. Tu the Western and Northern District primary schools the fee be increased from $3 to $8 per term, from $6 to $16 per annum.
Replying to the Chairman of the leard, at. the last meeting, the Assistant Treasurer said it appeared that the type of education provided at these schools was somewhat superior to that contemplated when the schools were first instituted. In the upper forms particularly, the type of education approached' that provided in the Council's secondary schools, and whilst undoubtedly it as not desired to debar the poorer classes of children from attending these schools, members might, he submitted, consider that the fees should more neatly approximate schools." If this proposal commend. those in force at the seconde:
fed itself to members, he suggested that, in the interests' of the poorer classes, a number of pupils should be admitted at half fees.
In respect to the Assistant Treasurer's observation on the curriculum of these schools, the Chinese Education Officer stated that they concentrated on the rudiments of education, and only in the higher rades were subjects approximate ing te secondary school education taught.
In view of the fac ies. provided fat these schools, particularly with the erection of nev: and expensive buildings, a member was of opinion that the' proposed increased scale of, fees was definitely en the low In concurring in this view, the Chairman alluded to the opinion previously expressed that public or remi-public schools should provide education at cheaper rates than those in force at schools which were privately administered, At the same time, the fact remained that many of the pupils attending these schools were well able to pay igher fees than those now proposed, and it was not possible for the Council to restrict their admission favour of the poorer classes.
In this connection, a member observed that, although the parents of pupils were called upon to pay only comparatively low school fees, it should-not be overlooked that ratepayers they were contribute indirectly to the maintenance of the schools by payment of muni: cipal taxation.
After further discussion, it was recommended that as from the ecm-Mmeneement of the Spring Term in 1933 the following scale of fees be adopted:—1. In the Eastern District and Ward Road Primary Schools the term. fee be increased from $3 to $6 per
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.