EXTRACT EXTRACT FROM DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
16
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1976
GOVT. URGED TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF EDUCATION
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REV. THE HON. JOYCE BENNETT TODAY CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION.
SPEAKING ON A MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OPENING ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SHE SAID IF THE GOVERNMENT WAS TO SHED ITS RESPONSIBILITY FOR RUNNING PRIMARY SCHOOLS, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SHOULD CONCENTRATE ITS EFFORTS AND DEVOTE MORE ATTENTION TO ADVISING AND ASSISTING ALL SCHOOLS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF TEACHING, TO IMPLEMENT NEW METHODS OF INSTRUCTION AND TO ASSESS BETTER THE PROGRESS OF STUDENTS.
+ IN ADDITION, FOLLOWING OUR REPLACEMENT OF THE SECONDARY SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAMINATION, I HOPE THAT SERIOUS RECONSIDERATION CAN BE GIVEN TO THE NEED FOR EXAMINATIONS IN PRIMARY 5 AND 6 IN SUCH SUBJECTS AS SOCIAL STUDIES, NATURE STUDY, HANDWORK, MUSIC AND ART.
+CHILDREN IN PRIMARY CLASSES SHOULD BE TAUGHT IN GROUPS IN THESE DISCIPLINES EXAMINATIONS AT THESE LEVELS SHOULD BE
AVOIDED, SHE SAID.
ANOTHER OBVIOUS WAY OF IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION, SHE SAID, WAS TO ENSURE THAT MORE SCHOOLS HAVE MORE TRAINED TEACHERS.
IN THIS CONNECTION, SHE SAID A SCHEME SHOULD BE DEVISED WHEREBY A PROPORTION OF THE TEACHERS IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHERE THE GOVERNMENT WAS BUYING PLACES MUST HAVE RECEIVED PROPER TRAINING.
+THERE ARE TRAINED TEACHERS AVAILABLE: THEY DESERVE A JOB PROPERLY PAID AND ONE WHICH ENABLES THEM TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE TEACHERS' PROVIDENT FUND.
+ IT IS ONLY IN SUCH WAYS THAT OUR MANY WELL-RUN PRIVATE SCHOOLS CAN ATTRACT BETTER TEACHERS AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF THE EDUCATION THEY ARE PROVIDING, SHE SAID.
REV. BENNETT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT A NUMBER OF VOLUNTARY BODIES HAD BEEN ASKED TO DIVERT THE MONEY FOR THEIR ORIGINAL SCHEMES TO SPONSOR NEW SCHOOLS IN THE NEW TOWNS, AFTER HAVING BEEN PROMISED GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR BUILDING SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE URBAN AREAS.
+ IT IS ESSENTIAL IN HONG KONG FOR GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY BODIES TO CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER IN MUTUAL TRUST AND CO-OPERATION, SHE SAID.
THE GOVERNMENT, SHE STRESSED, COULD NOT ACHIEVE ITS PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF VOLUNTARY BODIES.
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