All educational, counseling, and vocational guidance programs and all apprenticeship and on the job training programs which the city conducts or participates in shall be open to all persons, who shall be accepted on a basis of merit and qualifications without discrimination. Such programs shall be conducted to encourage the full development of the interests, aptitudes, skills, and capacities of all students and trainees, with special attention to the problems of culturally deprived, educationally handicapped or economically disadvantaged persons. (1975 Code § 2.52.040)