EDUCATION
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the aptitude test for the selection of students for prevocational schools were produced. Standardised Chinese and English tests at Form 2-3 levels and mathematics tests at Form 1-3 levels were being developed.
Other research projects undertaken during the year, in addition to those relating to the medium of instruction, included evaluation of the activity approach in primary schools, the construction of aptitude tests for career guidance, and evaluation of the Remedial Teaching Scheme.
Advisory Inspectorate
The main function of the Education Department's Advisory Inspectorate is to promote the quality of teaching. This involves frequent visits to schools by subject inspectors to advise on curriculum matters, teaching methods and utilisation of resources, and the provision of in-service training courses, seminars and workshops for teachers. The inspectorate is also responsible for curriculum development, production of educational television programmes, and evaluation of textbooks and instructional materials.
The Curriculum Development Committee and its many subjects committees continued to advise on curriculum innovation and revision at pre-primary, primary and secondary levels. In 1986, new syllabuses for Fashion and Clothing, and Accommodation and Catering Services at secondary level, and Government and Public Affairs at senior secondary level as well as revised syllabuses for Physical Education at primary level, Mathematics at secondary level, Science at junior secondary level and Geography at senior secondary level were issued. Resource centres were established to support the implementa- tion of the guidelines on Moral Education, Civic Education and Sex Education. The Activity-Approach, a more child-centred and less formal approach to learning in primary schools, continued to expand. At senior secondary level, the Computer Studies Scheme entered its fourth phase of development in September. The Textbooks Committee, as in previous years, provided guidance to schools in the selection of textbooks through the publication of recommended textbooks lists and also maintained close contact with publishers of educational materials.
Teaching and Resource Centres
The Advisory Inspectorate operates six teaching centres concerned with the teaching of Chinese, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Subjects and Cultural Crafts and three resource centres in connection with Civic Education, Religious/Ethical/Moral Education and Sex Education. A Field Studies Centre is open to sixth form students and teachers.
During the year, the Chinese Language Teaching Centre conducted 60 refresher courses, workshops and seminars for 1 700 teachers of Chinese in secondary and primary schools. Two competitions, one on recorded play and the other on writing at secondary level, were organised and 250 pupils participated in the competitions. Three small exhibitions on special topics were organised and attracted some 1 500 teachers. Both primary and secondary schools benefited from the centre's free dubbing service and over 2 100 teaching tapes were made during the year. To prepare teachers for the implementation of Putonghua as a subject in primary schools commencing in September, 10 courses/seminars on teaching of Putonghua were conducted for 900 teachers. An exhibition of resource materials on Puntonghua teaching was also organised in July.
The English Language Teaching Centre organised a total of 70 seminars, workshops and talks for over 2 000 participants. As well as providing schools with a free tape-dubbing