EDUCATION
168
The Hong Kong Teachers' Centre, set up in 1989 to promote professionalism and a sense of unity among teachers, is supervised by an advisory management committee with wide representation from schools, teacher organisations and educational bodies, and is staffed by the department. During the year, the centre organised, sponsored or hosted over 800 activities for 60 000 participants. It maintained a professional library and published newsletters.
Educational television programmes, produced jointly by the department and Radio Television Hong Kong, are transmitted to schools by two local television stations. Syllabus- based programmes for pupils in Primary 3 to Secondary 3 cover the Chinese and English languages, mathematics, science and social studies. Programmes for pupils in Primary 3 to 6 include health education.
A five-year information systems strategy was launched in late 1993 to extend the use of computer technology in managing and administering the school education programme. Computer networks are being developed to link up public sector schools with various sections of the department. In May, the Information Systems Division was established to oversee the development of 11 projects. Serving teachers and school heads are actively involved, to ensure that the system will be user-friendly and meet users' needs. When implemented in 1998, the strategy should reduce administrative workloads, increase productivity, enhance communications between schools and the department, and improve information management. This will help to improve the quality of education.
The department's Educational Research Section conducts research, develops tests, evaluates education programmes and monitors educational standards. During the year, a new series (Series 4) of standardised Hong Kong Attainment Tests was developed for primary levels in Chinese, English and mathematics. These tests are administered yearly by primary and secondary schools to diagnose areas of strength and weakness, so that appropriate guidance, counselling and remedial teaching can be provided. The results also help the department to monitor standards across years and levels. Research projects completed by the section included three studies on the continuity of curriculum and teaching practices among various levels of education, and a study of the effects of changing the medium of instruction at junior secondary level. Studies also began on the implementation of the new Secondary 6 curriculum, and a pilot project on the implementation in schools of the educational aims set out in the policy document School Education in Hong Kong: A Statement of Aims.
The 19 district education offices, each headed by a senior education officer, provide advice and assistance to schools, teachers, parents and students, and facilitate communica- tions with the department. District education officers attend district board meetings for discussion of educational matters.
The department encourages a whole-school approach to student guidance, emphasising a caring and positive learning environment and the involvement of all staff in helping students resolve their developmental problems. The Student Guidance Section provides training for primary school guidance staff, enforces compulsory education and ensures an adequate provision of study room facilities.
The Careers and Guidance Services Section supports the delivery of careers and guidance services to secondary students. Training courses, conferences and workshops are organised annually for careers/guidance teachers, and a guidance teacher resource centre