Loans for diploma pupils urged

The Vocational Training Centre (VTC) has recommended that diploma students of its institutes be covered by the Government's grant and loan scheme.

The initial reaction from the Student Financial Assistance Agency (SFAA) was 'positive', Mo Yun-ming, principal education officer of the academic secretariat of the Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), said.

'We certainly make every effort to fight for the best interests of our students,' Mr Mo said.

'I believe it is a good thing to do from the Government's point of view if more students can benefit.' Earlier, Mr Mo announced a new admission arrangement for the coming academic year under which more IVE students would be eligible for government financial aid.

It reverses a system implemented only last year. Under this scheme, about 6,000 first year students were admitted to 'subject groups' last September without being assigned to specific courses. They will progress to programmes leading to diplomas or higher diplomas in September this year. These students are not eligible to join the SFAA as they had not yet secured a higher diploma place.

Students of the eight tertiary institutions under the University Grants Committee are covered by the loan scheme.

Under the new proposal, more than 5,000 students who were due to be admitted to subject groups this September will now join specific courses at the VTC institutes.