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Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Man-kwong and a reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Professor Arthur K C Li, in the Legislative Council today (March 14):
Question:
The number of publicly-funded first-year first-degree places has been maintained at 14 500 since the 1994-1995 school year. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the criteria used as the basis for setting the number of first-degree places each year at the level of 14 500; and
(b) whether such places will be increased so that more local students of the appropriate age group and associate degree graduates can pursue further studies; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) In determining the approved student number targets for publicly-funded places in the University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded sector (including first-year-first-degree (FYFD) places), the Administration will take into account various educational, social and economic considerations. These include, among others, the projected student population of the relevant age cohort, the quality of student intakes, the development of the publicly-funded and self-financing post-secondary sectors, Government's fiscal position, as well as the manpower requirements and economic development trends of Hong Kong. Based on the UGC's advice, the Administration will submit its recommendations on the approved student number targets for the UGC-funded sector to the Executive Council for consideration.
(b) While the number of FYFD places has remained unchanged in the past years, there were developments on other fronts which have led to increases in the tertiary education opportunities of the relevant age cohort. First, the Administration has provided articulation opportunities for students having sub-degree or other relevant qualifications through the provision of publicly-funded senior year places in the UGC-funded institutions. In this regard, the Administration has undertaken to create additional publicly-funded Year 2 and Year 3 undergraduate places by phases totalling about 3 800 from the 2005/06 to 2010/11 academic years.
Furthermore, through a series of support measures, including start-up loans, land grant at nominal premium and accreditation grants, the Government has facilitated the development of self-financed post-secondary education programmes in Hong Kong. At present, self-financed post-secondary education institutions provide some 2 300 FYFD and 1 500 top-up degree places for students in Hong Kong.
The Administration will keep in view the development of our higher education sector to ensure that it is capable of meeting the education needs of our students and the manpower requirements of Hong Kong. We will also examine ways to better support the further development of the self-financing sector in providing higher education opportunities.
Ends/Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Issued at HKT 13:00
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