Letter from the Editor

Cost behind courses

Learning is a life-long quest. The development of Hong Kong depends not only on the economic growth but also the diffusion of education. Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said in his policy address that providing quality education was an integral part of government support. The quality of education and supervision is essential.

The Continuing Education Fund (CEF), starting from June 2002, subsidises adults aged between 18 and 60 to pursue continuing education and training courses. Eligible applicants will be reimbursed 80 per cent of their course fees, subject to a maximum sum of HK$10,000, on successful completion of a reimbursable course or modules.

The scheme has encouraged citizens to do further studies. At the same time, it brings along more business opportunities for educational institutes to run their courses. However, that is where grey areas come in.

A number of course promoters of a particular institute told Varsity that they could make more commissions if they also studied the CEF reimbursable courses themselves apart from getting students to enrol on those courses.

Doubts have been raised over whether the course fees are being hiked up to cover the commissions and make money out of the promoter-students. Like the case in the article, that particular institute paid HK$2,000 of commission to a promoter when she successfully recruited one student to take a CEF reimbursable course and also studied the course herself, instead of just HK$1,000.

The commission system may induce promoters to introduce more students to enrol in the class they have joined. The more students an institute has, the more business it will have.

Then that how many people who take those reimbursable courses really have an intention to learn may become questionable. The good cause of continuing education encouraged by the government at the expense of taxpayers can be tainted.

An official of the Education and Manpower Bureau has already said using financial inducements to attract students to take the CEF reimbursable courses is unlawful. The authorities should look into this matter thoroughly.

Young people also have to be careful when they take a job, especially during summer, to avoid any pitfalls. Do not be blinded by money.

Catherine Sun
Managing Editor