EDUCATION
learning difficulties. There were 892 residential places provided in boarding sections of 16 special schools. In addition, there were 399 special education classes in ordinary schools providing 5 905 places for the partially sighted, the partially hearing, and students with learning difficulties.
A programme to provide remedial support for mildly-handicapped children integrated in non-profit-making kindergartens was implemented in 1988 and extended to 11 kin- dergartens in 1989.
Intensive remedial services were provided by the Special Education Section of the Education Department for students with learning difficulties and adjustment problems in ordinary classes. These services included remedial support outside school hours in resource teaching centres and adjustment units, a peripatetic teaching service in ordinary schools during or outside school hours, and advisory service to schools.
Screening and assessment services were provided to identify special educational needs among school-age children so that remedial action could be taken as early as possible. Primary 1 students were screened under the Combined Screening Programme with screen- ing tests for hearing and vision. The programme also provided checklists and guides for teachers to detect children with speech problems and learning difficulties. Students requiring further assessment were given audiological, speech, psychological or educational assessments while those in need of remedial services such as speech and auditory training, speech therapy and counselling were given such services at the Special Education Services Centres. The government also operated a laboratory to provide ear moulds to students with impaired hearing.
The Centralised Braille Production Centre, established late in 1986, and operated by the Hong Kong Society for the Blind under government subvention, produced braille reading material, including textbooks, and carried out research to improve braille production in both English and Chinese.
The two-year in-service courses of training for teachers of children with special educa- tional needs continued to be operated by the Sir Robert Black College of Education. Short courses, seminars and workshops, as well as refresher courses, were frequently held by the Special Education Section to enhance the professional knowledge of staff in the special education field.
Post-Secondary Education
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There are two approved post-secondary colleges registered under the Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance (Chapter 320). They are the Hong Kong Shue Yan College and Lingnan College. The Hong Kong Shue Yan College, registered in January 1976, has three faculties Arts, Social Science and Business, with 13 departments offering day and evening courses to 3 961 students. It operates a four-year diploma programme without government financial assistance. However, the students are eligible to apply for loans which are admin- istered by the department. The maximum amount was $9,400 in 1989-90.
Lingnan College, registered in October 1978, has three faculties - Arts, Business and Social Science - with eight departments and a general education division which provides 12 study programmes. The total enrolment in the various courses is 1088. Following an institutional review by the Council for National Academic Awards, an integrated three-year Honours Diploma course was introduced in September 1988. This has attracted greater government financial assistance. Financial assistance is also available to students on the integrated three-year course. In 1989–90 the maximum level for grants was revised to $4,300, and for loans to $5,100.
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