EDUCATION
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September, there were 1 145 students in the three-year course; 269 students in the new two-year course; 157 students in the advanced course; and 1 238 students in the in-service training courses.
Financial assistance in the form of interest-free loans and maintenance grants is provided by the government for students enrolled in the full-time courses. The maximum mainte- nance grants and interest-free loans awarded to college students are $2,000 and $2,400 per annum, respectively.
Technical teacher training is provided at the Hong Kong Technical Teachers' College. The college trains technical teachers for secondary schools, prevocational schools and technical institutes. A one-year full-time course is available for mature students who are well qualified and experienced in a technical field and have decided to take up technical teaching as a career. Generous grants are offered to attract suitable recruits from commerce and industry. A two-year full-time course for secondary technical school-leavers will be phased out by July, 1982, and replaced by a three-year, full-time course for secondary school-leavers who have prior studies in either technical or commercial subjects. In September, 1981, a one-year full-time supplementary course in design and technology was offered to graduates of the two-year full-time course. The college also provides in-service courses for teacher training, and courses for supervisors and instructors employed by industry.
Adult Education
The Adult Education Section of the Education Department provides a wide range of courses and recreational activities for adults and young people who no longer attend formal education courses in day schools. These courses and activities are provided by the Evening School of Higher Chinese Studies, the Evening Institute, 16 Adult Education and Recreation centres and 12 subvented voluntary organisations.
The Evening School of Higher Chinese Studies offers a three-year diploma course in general arts for secondary school-leavers wishing to further their studies in Chinese literature, philosophy and sociology. It also offers short courses of six months' duration in various aspects of Chinese classics and culture. At post-secondary level, teachers' courses provide additional in-service professional training in the teaching of English in junior secondary forms, English in primary schools, mathematics in junior secondary forms, physical education in secondary schools, Putonghua in primary schools and a variety of creative subjects.
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The Evening Institute offers courses ranging from literacy to secondary and post- secondary studies at its 122 centres. A general adult education course provides fundamental and elementary education at primary level to meet the educational needs and interests of adults. Parallel to this are practical courses to teach adults such domestic skills as sewing and knitting, cookery and woodwork. There are also three courses at secondary school level - the young people's course, the secondary school course and the middle school course for adults the last two of which prepare students for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination. To improve proficiency in English, an English course is offered from Primary 4 to Form 5 at which level adult students are prepared for the English Language paper (Syllabus B) of the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination. Classes of Form 6 standard are organised to provide further training and practice in the use of English.
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The 16 Adult Education and Recreation centres organise many cultural, social and recreational activities designed to stimulate individual awareness within the community, to