從財政預算案看教育資源 The Financial Report: from the viewpoint of Education

從財政預算案看教育資源

本年度財政預算案自二月二十三日出爐以來，全城也在熱哄哄的討論著。各團體的討論點都著重於「財爺派糖」之上。那六千大元，派是派給全體市民的了，但教育界呢，這顆「糖」又去了哪？

曾班子上任之初高舉發展六大產業之旗幟，當中便包含了教育作為一產業以推廣。但在最新一份預算案中，對教育的撥款只低於總預算支出百分之二十，而此額更僅佔本港人均生產總值3.4%，遠較其他發達地區低。

但港府並非沒有足夠資源發展教育。單看上財政年度，港府已有七百多億元的財政盈餘。但直接撥入教育發展的並不多，當中包括對清貧學生的支援及提供獎學金。非直接的則有運用1億元資助專上學生回內地交流體驗及預留1.1億元設立課後功課輔導計劃予現修讀教育課程之大學生為小學生作功課輔導。是類獨立項目接受著政府的一次性撥款，而政府設立此之項目原意亦十分好。然而，政府若能作出此種一次性撥款，何不投放更多入長遠的教育發展呢？

教育界多年來一直要求政府「打開糧倉」──推行中學小班教學，增加教席，舒緩現行教席求過於供的問題，亦有助學生學習，達雙嬴之局。此措施已經辯論多年，現在發展亦為成熟時機。偏偏政府以「一拖再拖」的方式來應付並推出各風馬牛不相及的計劃來分散注意。政府拒推小班，其一之可能是小班教學將成為政府之經常性開支。而提高經常性開支則為港府極其害怕之事。然而，在財政多年來穩健的情況下，增加長遠教育發展之撥款實不為過。

於剛閉幕的兩會會議間，國務院總理溫家寶亦提及本港應「重視教育、科技，以增強香港發展的後勁」，可見本港長遠教育之發展已引起了中央政府的關注。港府亦應再詳細深思本港教育之發展路向，作為大學生的我們，亦應主動提出意見，協助政府於教育政策之發展。

思考題：
1. 你認為政府現行的教育政策對教育界的持續發展有何影響？
2. 你認為政府可增加哪些方面教育資源？

參考資料：
港科研開支遠遜內地。（2011，3月15日）。明報，港聞。

歡迎各會員於本會位於邵仁枚樓二樓，206室對外的民主牆或其他渠道（如Facebook, Academic Blog）發表回應及意見。亦歡迎各位登上本會網頁（網址為　http://www.hku.hk/edusoc/）觀看更多學術相關新聞。



The Financial Report: from the viewpoint of Education

This year's financial report has been one of the most discussed topics since it's release on 23rd February. The main focus was the "candy" handed out. The sum of $6000 was given to all citizens; but where is the "candy" for Education?

When Ronald Tsang and his crew first came to power, they concentrated on developing the six major industries, with Education developed as an industry. However, the latest financial report shows less than 20% of the overall expenditure is being spent on Education which is only 3.4% of the G.D.P., which is somewhat low compared to other developed countries.

As for the capability, The Government was more than capable of providing extra funds. Merely from addressing the latest financial section, the Government has roughly $70 Billion left from last year. However, the Government didn’t spend a lot of it on Education. In terms of direct investment, the Government invested in aids for students from low income families and scholarship schemes. As for indirect investments, the Government used $100 million to pay for the mainland experience scheme aimed at local tertiary students and also reserved $110 million to set up the undergraduate after-school homework guidance scheme for primary school students. Despite these investments being a onetime phenomenon, it is a great idea. However, one could argue that if the Government are capable of these onetime investments, why doesn’t Government invest more thus sustaining the long term development of Education.

For many years, there have been requests asking the Government to spend more on Education, especially in promoting small class teaching and increasing teacher vacancies thus solving the problem of supply over demand as well as enhancing student’s learning opportunities. This topic has been discussed for many years now and we have reached a point where all this can be made possible. However, the Government continues to dwell on the issue and introduces new schemes in an attempt to distract the public from this topic. The Government refuses to introduce small class teaching. One could suggest this is due to the fact that if small class teaching is to be introduced, it would be one of the everyday expenditure which is one of the great fears for the Government. However, as the finances has been stable for many years, increasing the expenditure on the development of Education isn’t really too much to ask.

As the NPC (National People’s Congress) and the CPPCC (Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference) comes to an end, The Premier and Party Secretary of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, Wen Jiabao, mentioned that Hong Kong should focus on Education and Technology therefore enhancing Hong Kong’s long term development. This statement shows the long term development of Education has aroused the attention of the central Government. The Hong Kong Government should seriously reconsider what route they intend to take on Education. As University students, we should be more proactive in providing ideas and opinions to the Government therefore helping the overall development of Education in Hong Kong.

Discussion:
1. What effects do you think the Hong Kong Government’s current policies on Education has on the Educational field and is it sufficient in sustaining it’s long term development?
2. Which areas of Education do you think the Government can spend more resources on?

Reference
港科研開支遠遜內地. (2011, March 25). Ming Pao, Local News

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