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EDUCATION
courses for instructors working with the handicapped, and for supervisors and instructors employed in industry.
All four colleges also offer a one-year full-time Advanced Course of Teacher Education in cultural, practical and technical subjects.
In October, there were 1 156 students in the three-year full-time course, 1 080 students in the two-year full-time course, 119 students in the Advanced Course of Teacher Education and a total of 2 484 students in the in-service training and retraining courses.
Financial assistance in the form of interest-free loans and maintenance grants is provided by the government for eligible 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 department. During the year, three ten-day management courses were held for a total of 58 newly-appointed primary school heads. Three seven-day management courses were held for 61 experienced primary school heads, while 27 newly-appointed seconday school heads attended a nine-day management course. Following a well-received pilot four-day management course for senior teachers in seconday schools last year, 10 repeat courses were run this year for a total of 202 senior teachers. Various seminars and short courses were also offered for professional officers and induction and basic training courses for new recruits of the department.
Adult Education
The Adult Education Section of the Education Department provides formal and non- formal education in the evening through a number of courses and activities, and assists voluntary organisations through a subvention scheme.
The formal education courses covered remedial education, second chance education and education for personal development. They ranged from primary to secondary and post-secondary studies and were offered in 48 centres. The Adult Education Course (General Background), offering Chinese, English, Mathematics and Social Studies, pro- vided free primary education for educationally-deprived adults to acquire the skills of reading, writing and numeracy. Some classes were jointly operated with the Correctional Services Department, Social Welfare Department and Urban Services Department. At the secondary level, the Government Evening Secondary School Course, operating in both Chinese and English Sections, offered arts and science subjects to adults and adolescents wishing to obtain Hong Kong Certificate of Education qualifications. The evening Secondary School Course for school-aged children, which used to supplement day school provision, was phased out in September 1988 as a result of the greatly increased day-school provision in recent years.
To improve proficiency in English and enhance job opportunities and career advance- ment, English courses were provided at primary, secondary and GCE levels, preparing students for the English Language Paper (Syllabus B) of the HKCEE and the GCE 'O' Level Examination. At the post-secondary level, the Evening School of Higher Chinese Studies offered school leavers short courses in Chinese language, classics and culture for personal enrichment. Under the credit unit system, students may be awarded a diploma if they are able to accumulate the required units within five years. Teachers' courses provided opportunities for serving teachers to refresh their knowledge and skills in a variety of academic and cultural subjects. During the year, over 20 000 people enrolled in these formal adult education courses.
Non-formal education was offered through a variety of cultural, social, recreational and educational activities. The Adult Education Courses (Practical Background) offered in 30