Goal surpassed: Secretary for Education & Manpower Professor Arthur Li says the post-secondary education-participation rate has gone up to an estimated 66% this year, higher than the target rate set in the 2000 Policy Address.

The number of publicly-funded senior year places will be doubled in phases to offer more articulation opportunities for sub-degree students, Secretary for Education & Manpower Professor Arthur Li says.

When asked whether tax allowances will be offered to sub-degree students, Professor Li said the Financial Secretary will consider the suggestion, adding the community should have a consensus on the issue.

Speaking on RTHK's talk show Dialogue with Secretaries today, Professor Li said to upgrade the local workforce's competitiveness and quality, the Chief Executive announced in his 2000 Policy Address a policy objective to make provisions for 60% of senior secondary school leavers to receive tertiary education within 10 years.

Policy target reached

Noting the post-secondary education-participation rate has gone up from about 33% in the 2000-01 academic year to an estimated 66% this year, Professor Li said the policy objective has been achieved and it is necessary to consider the way forward.

He pointed out training is important for the local population, and sub-degree programmes, covering courses leading to a qualification at the level of associate degree, higher or professional diploma, have given those who have attended secondary school more chances to pursue further studies.

Professor Li stressed sub-degrees are valuable exit qualifications on their own, and are independently recognised credentials for further studies and employment. Therefore, people should not take associate degrees as only a bridging qualification for admission to degree programmes.

Quality assured

He pointed out University Grants Committee-funded institutions have set up a joint quality review committee to oversee their sub-degree programmes while those run by non UGC-funded institutions will be subject to quality control by the Council for Academic Accreditation.

On support measures for sub-degree students, Professor Li said to help achieve a more equitable distribution of resources, the Government aims to offer financial assistance to students in need rather than subventing programme providers.

To cut the financial burden on students pursuing locally accredited, self-financing programmes, the Government has proposed bringing the means-tested grant under the Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students on par with that of the Local Student Finance Scheme from the coming academic year.

More support

Under the proposal, the same 17-level scale for determining the amount of grant for each applicant will be applied so that the less needy students may also benefit. A grant to cover academic expenses up to $3,000, which is subject to annual adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index A, will be introduced.

For students who do not receive maximum grant, the maximum loan ceiling for Non-means Tested Loan Scheme for Post-secondary Students will be raised to cover academic expenses, in addition to tuition fees and living expenses.

The proposal is expected to significantly improve the Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students, with the amount of grant to be disbursed to go up from $215 million in 2005-06 to $537 million in 2006-07, and $780 million in 2010-11. The number of beneficiaries will rise from 5,200 to 18,200 and 26,400.