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basis of an I.Q. level, to be abandoned, the
objective now being to provide education and
training for all mentally retarded persons,
irrespective of the degree of retardation: this
would be the responsibility of the Education
Department, assuming responsibility from 1st
April 1978 for subventing those voluntary
organisations providing education and training
for the mentally retarded;
(v) the number of special education places to be
increased from 12,165 to 50,800 by 1985-86:
hence the need for an increased output of staff
at pre-school, primary, secondary, tertiary,
prevocational and vocational levels; all existing
methods of training therefore to be expanded, and
consideration to be given to the establishment of
a full-time training course for special education
teachers and of courses in Hong Kong on specialised
subjects for which training was at present only
available overseas;
(vi) pre-school education to be developed in two ways:
nurseries to be encouraged to accent children with
minor disabilities, and special pre-school training
facilities to be provided for those unable to benefit
from pre-school training in an ordinary setting (staff
training to be provided together with financial assistance
for the physical alteration of premises this would entail);
(vii) the Education Department to provide special training
for staff employed in children's training centres run
by the Social Welfare Department and by voluntary
organisations; the adequacy of facilities at such