EDUCATION
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in the New Territories, environmental perception, ground water and visibility, internal migrations of the rural population of Hong Kong, and the Special Economic Zones in China.
Teacher Education
Teacher education is provided at the three Colleges of Education – Grantham, Northcote and Sir Robert Black and at the Hong Kong Technical Teachers' College, all run by the Education Department. Since September 1980, the three colleges of education have restructured their full-time courses – replacing the traditional two-year course with a new three-year full-time course for students with Hong Kong Certificate of Education qualifi- cation in accordance with the recommendations set out in the 1978 White Paper on the Development of Senior Secondary and Tertiary Education. A newly-structured two-year full-time course was introduced at Northcote College of Education for students who have obtained Grade E or above in two or more subjects in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination. The three colleges continued to offer the Advanced Course of Teacher Education, in 10 subject areas, for both trained serving teachers in government and aided schools and students who completed an initial full-time course in the 1981-2 academic year. From September 1982, only serving teachers were admitted to the advanced course. Part-time in-service courses are also provided for teachers in primary and secondary schools who seek further professional training, as well as for kindergarten teachers and teachers of special education.
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There was a large increase in student intake in the three colleges of education during the year, caused by the demand for more non-graduate teachers as a result of the improved teacher to class ratio in primary schools from 1.1:1 to 1.2:1 - and the new systematic re-training programme for serving primary school teachers. In September, there were 1 560 students in the three-year course; 369 students in the two-year course; 100 students in the advanced course; and 1 509 students in the in-service training course.
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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. Substantial grants are offered to attract suitable recruits from commerce and industry. The two-year full-time course for secondary technical school- leavers was phased out in July and replaced by a three-year, full-time course for secondary school-leavers who have prior studies in either technical or commercial subjects. A one-year full-time supplementary course in design and technology is offered to graduates of the old two-year full-time course. The college also provides in-service courses for serving teachers, and courses for supervisors and instructors employed in industry. In September, there were 167 students in the full-time courses and 333 students in the part-time day and short courses.
Financial assistance in the form of interest-free loans and maintenance grants is provided by the government for students enrolled in full-time courses at the four colleges. The maximum maintenance grants and interest-free loans awarded to students were $2,000 and $2,400 per annum respectively.
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