EDUCATION
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School Library Service School library services continued to expand with the training of more librarians in secondary schools. Following a pilot run the previous year, the scheme for class libraries, based on the recommendations of the 1981 White Paper on Primary Education and Pre-Primary Services, was fully implemented in Primary 5 and 6 classes in all government and aided primary schools in September, while a pilot run was introduced for Primary 3 and 4 classes. Each class is provided with an initial grant of $500 for bookshelves and $10 per year per pupil for library books.
During the year, two seminars on library resources and teaching were organised for 400 secondary school teachers, while two seminars for 700 primary school heads and senior teachers, 12 training courses for 850 primary school teachers, and an exhibition were held in connection with the class library scheme.
Educational Television
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Programmes produced by the Educational Television Service (ETV) are regarded as the most useful audio-visual supplement to classroom teaching, and regular viewing has become a normal part of Hong Kong's school life. ETV's total audience during 1982-3 was estimated to be 250 000 secondary and 350 000 primary school children.
The programmes are produced locally, in colour, by the Education Department and Radio Television Hong Kong, and are transmitted by the commercial television stations. They are based on syllabuses used in primary and secondary schools. Notes for teachers include suggested preparation and follow-up activities and, in the case of primary school programmes, notes for students are also provided. Comments from teachers, questionnaires, visits to schools by ETV producers and inspectors, and reports by the Advisory Inspectorate have resulted in many improvements to ETV. since its inception in 1971.
Primary school ETV programmes cover Chinese, English, mathematics and social studies at Primary 3 to 6 levels. Secondary school programmes are produced for Forms 1 to 3 in the same four subjects and in science. In September 1983, ETV programmes on science and health education were introduced to Primary 3 level - to be extended by one level each year to reach Primary 6 in 1986.
Colour television receivers and video cassette recorders are provided for all government and aided schools and private secondary schools with bought places. In 1982–3, about $2.2 million was spent on the provision of equipment to these schools.
Hong Kong Examinations Authority
The Hong Kong Examinations Authority, an independent statutory body, began adminis- tering the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination in 1978, the Hong Kong Higher Level Examination in 1979, and the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination in 1980. In 1983, a total of 172 321 candidates entered for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination; 18 726 entered for the Hong Kong Higher Level Examination; and 15 588 entered for the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination.
The authority also assumes responsibility for conducting a large number of overseas examinations on behalf of various examining bodies in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. These examinations include the General Certificate of Education, the Test of English as a Foreign Language, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Examinations, and many others which enable students to acquire academic and pro- fessional qualifications.