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EDUCATION
training in design and technology. On completion of this course, graduates are able to teach technical subjects up to Certificate of Education level. The government primary school teachers' retraining course provides two-year full-time retraining in design and technology that allows such teachers to go on to teach technical subjects in government secondary schools. The industrial trade instructors' courses, offered in part-time day-release, in the evening and in block release, aim to improve the instruc- tional technique of supervisors and instructors employed by industry. In addition, the college provides short courses and seminars on specific topics tailored to the needs of various industries.
A developing Technical Teachers' Centre is associated with the Technical Teachers' College. The centre encourages activities that bring teachers interested in the teaching of technical subjects together to discuss common problems and to exchange ideas.
Adult Education
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For young people who have left school and for adults, the Adult Education Section of the Education Department provides both formal and informal evening education through the Evening Institute, the Evening School of Higher Chinese Studies, and 14 adult education and recreation centres.
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The Evening Institute offers seven types of formal courses that constitute the whole education ladder for adults from literacy classes to secondary and post-secondary studies. The general background courses provide fundamental and elementary education at primary level, with special reference to adult needs and interests. Par- allel-to these are the practical background courses which offer training in house- craft, sewing and knitting, and woodwork to give adults certain basic practical skills for home use. Further up the ladder are three courses at secondary school level the young people's course, the secondary school courses and the middle school course for adults. The three-year young people's course provides additional training in general education with some practical bias for young primary school- leavers who do not anticipate further studies. However, to give students a chance of furthering their studies, the syllabus of the young people's course was revised recently to parallel levels of the secondary school courses and the middle school course for adults. Both the six-year secondary school courses and the five-year middle school course for adults provide full academic courses leading to the Hong Kong Certificate of Education examination. At post-secondary level, the teachers' courses provide additional in-service professional training in the teaching of English in primary schools, mathematics in junior secondary forms, physical education in secondary schools, and the teaching of art, art and craft, music, woodcraft, handicraft, gymnas- tics, modern educational dance, folk dance, oriental dance and educational com- munications and technology. English-language courses from Primary IV to Form V standard are offered to prepare adult students for the English syllabus of the Hong Kong Certificate of Education examination. Senior level classes of matriculation standard provide practical English for business use.
The Evening School of Higher Chinese Studies offers a three-year general arts diploma course at post-secondary level in Chinese literature, philosophy and sociol- ogy. Since September, 1976, specialised one-term courses have been offered on various aspects of Chinese classics and culture.