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- 39
intended to illustrate how the theory works. Training, on the
other hand, is seen as the acquisition and practice of skills, and
theoretical instruction in training is confined to the minimum
necessary for the learner to attain the level of proficiency required
for his vocation. This distinction is the basis for the principle
followed so far in Hong Kong under which the government is responsible
for providing "technical education" through the technical institutes,
the Polytechnic and the universities; and industry itself is
responsible for providing "training" either at the place of work or,
where in-plant facilities are inadequate, in special training centres
to be established by industry with funds collected through industry
levies.
2.56
It
Thus, craft and technician level courses in educational
institutions in Hong Kong are organised mainly on a part-time day-
release or block-release basis to fit in with apprenticeship schemes
and to facilitate the interplay between education and training.
will be seen from the chart at appendix E that a Form III leaver,
even on completing a one-year full-time craft course in a technical
institute, is not regarded as a qualified craftsman until he has
completed his apprenticeship and further part-time studies in the
technical institute. He is, however, exempted from the first year
of apprenticeship (an exemption which is also granted to Form III
leavers from prevocational schools because of the stronger technical
bias of the prevocational school curriculum). The Apprenticeship
Ordinance has undoubtedly brought about significant improvements
in the training of technical manpower. Since its enactment in 1976,
37 trades have been specified as "designated trades" (i.e. trades
for which apprenticeships are mandatory) under the Ordinance and
some 15,000 apprenticeship contracts have accordingly been registered.