10.6
The growth targets given to the UPGC in 1976 provided for the student population at the Polytechnic to expand at 5% annually over the triennium 1978-81, reaching a total of 11,400 full-time and equivalent part-time (or a total of about 28,800 students) by 1980-81. It is proposed that the size of the Polytechnic should be stabilised at a population of 12,000 full-time and equivalent part-time (providing for a total of about 29,600 students).
10.7 The manpower objectives that the Government seeks to achieve through the universities concern the vocationally- related courses, such as medicine, engineering and education. An important objective of present planning is the provision of an adequate supply of doctors and dentists. The Government attaches considerable priority to the establishment of a Medical School at the Chinese University. It is planned that this School should receive its first pre-clinical intake of students in 1981; these students would graduate in 1986 and become fully qualified subsequent to completion of their internship in 1987. The establishment of the Dental School at the University of Hong Kong is another important objective. It is planned that the School should receive its first pre- clinical intake of students in 1980, who would qualify as dentists in 1984. When both these new schools are fully operational, they will provide annually about 100 newly qualified doctors and 60 dentists.
10.8
With the continued expansion of the universities, increasing numbers of good-quality graduates may be attracted to the teaching profession, which can offer them a satisfying and rewarding career. The Government considers that it is highly desirable that university graduates who enter the teaching profession should take a course of teacher training. At present, teacher training is not pre-requisite for the registration of university graduates as teachers, though it does entitle them to increments on the salary scale when employed in a Government or aided school and may improve their general career prospects. The need to provide further inducements will be considered. The Schools of Education at both universities have a crucial part to play, if the schools are to receive an adequate supply of well-trained graduate teachers. The Government and the UPGC will attach a high priority to meeting the development needs of these two Schools.
10.9
As a greater part of the Polytechnic's courses have a specific vocational relevance, manpower needs are a crucial consideration in planning. The Polytechnic is no longer concerned only with providing courses in engineering and related
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