EDUCATION
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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 at the four colleges.
Basic training courses in educational management for heads of schools in the public sector are provided by the Training Unit of the Education Department. During the year, a total of 120 primary school heads in six groups attended a ten-day management course while 18 secondary school heads attended a nine-day course and 98 secondary school heads in five groups attended a four-day staff development workshop. A six-day management course for 20 kindergarten heads was conducted for the first time. Various seminars/short courses for professional officers and, induction and basic training courses for new recruits of the department were also offered.
Adult Education
The Adult Education Section of the Education Department provides formal and non- formal education to adults through a wide range of courses and activities.
For the academic year beginning in September, over 20 000 persons enrolled in formal education courses ranging from basic literacy to secondary and post-secondary studies in 84 centres. At the primary level, the Adult Education Course (General Background) in Chinese, English, Mathematics and Social Studies provided retrieval education to those who had earlier missed the opportunity of a formal primary education. Some of these classes were operated jointly with the Correctional Services Department, Social Welfare Department and Urban Services Department. English courses were also offered. At the secondary level, the Secondary School Course and Government Secondary School Course for Adults offered a full secondary school course and prepared students of both English and Chinese Sections for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination. English courses were run at secondary and GCE levels which prepared adult students to sit for the English Language Paper (Syllabus B) of the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination and the GCE ‘O' Level Examination. At the post-secondary level, teachers' courses were offered which provided refresher courses for serving teachers in a variety of academic and cultural subjects. For the public, the Evening School of Higher Chinese Studies offered short courses in Chinese language, classical literature and culture.
The non-formal education courses continued to be very popular. The Adult Education Courses (Practical Background) which teach such skills as sewing, knitting, cookery and woodwork were offered in 28 centres. Some 5 000 students attended these courses during the year. The number of Adult Education and Recreation Centres, which organised a great variety of educational, cultural, social and recreational activities to stimulate individual and social awareness, cultivate creative ability and develop individual talents, was increased to 18. Various activities were organised with other government departments and organisa- tions, such as the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Consumer Council and the St. John Ambulance Brigade. During the year, over 17 000 persons participated in the courses. Microcomputer courses were introduced for members of the Adult Education and Recreation Centres. Over 400 members attended these courses in the year.
A number of voluntary agencies continued to run subvented courses which complemented and supplemented the department's adult education services in various areas. In 1986–7, a total of 159 projects operated by 50 organisations were granted government subsidies.
Language in Education
The language research projects referred to in the Education Commission's Report No. 1 were completed during the year and these substantiated the assumption that, other things
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