156
EDUCATION
In sports promotion, training courses and competitions in various sports were organised for secondary and primary students. Training schemes were conducted to identify and develop potential athletes in schools. A systematic dance training scheme was held to provide in-depth training programmes for selected dancers in schools. Outdoor education camps aiming to provide students with experience of living in a natural outdoor environ- ment are organised annually.
The section continued to administer the annual Summer Youth Programme for Schools. With funds totalling $4.2 million, including a donation of $1.61 million from the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club, the 1990 programme attracted over 31 500 students and teachers in 3 000 events.
Music Education
The year's in-service training programme for music teachers concentrated on the intro- duction of new methods and the use of microtechnology in music classes.
Nine sets of music textbooks written in line with the Revised Primary Music Syllabus were reviewed. School-based curriculum projects on the Adaptation of the Kodaly Choral Method were carried out in primary and secondary schools. The Education Department continued to operate the Centralised Scheme of Music Training, which linked music education in schools with that of the tertiary institutions.
Teaching and Resource Centres
The Advisory Inspectorate operates teaching and resource centres for Chinese, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Subjects, Cultural Crafts, Computer Education, Technical Subjects, Civic Education, Religious/Ethical/Moral Education, Sex Education, Activity Approach and Kindergarten. It also operates a Field Studies Centre, which is open to Secondary 6 and 7 students and teachers.
The Visual Education Section's Audio Visual Resources Library provides a wide range of audio-visual aids on free loan to schools. Its Media Production Services Unit is open to help teachers produce their own teaching aids.
The Hong Kong Teachers' Centre
The aim of this multi-purpose centre is to promote continuous professional development and a greater sense of unity and professionalism among teachers. An Advisory Manage- ment Committee was formed with wide representation from teacher organisations and individual teachers in schools. The committee, together with its standing committee, working groups and sub-committees, successfully organised the first series of professional development activities for teachers. It also published a quarterly News Bulletin for dis- tribution to all kindergarten, primary school and secondary school teachers.
School Library Services
School library services expanded with the employment of more school librarians in secondary schools. In the school year 1989–90, 346 schools were provided with either one full-time or one half-time school librarian. This year the Reading Award Scheme for secondary school students was extended to Secondary 5. A total of 209 schools with 30 000 students participated in this scheme. In primary schools, the class library scheme continued to operate smoothly. A Reading Award Scheme for Primary 5 and 6 was successfully