EDUCATION
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training, business advisory service and office facilities for potential entrepreneurs who wish to start business in Hong Kong.
Industry-specific Training
The Construction Industry Training Authority, established in 1975, operates three construction training centres plus a management training centre, a trade testing centre and a safety training centre, offering a total of 6 858 full-time and 94 821 part- time training places for the 2001-02 training year. Full-time courses are offered to train up craftsman operators and technicians in the construction field; and part-time courses for the continuing education of in-service construction personnel. The authority also conducts certification tests for operators of construction plants, and offers trade tests and intermediate trade tests for construction workers with a view to enhancing site safety and workmanship. The authority is funded by a levy of 0.4 per cent on the value of all construction works exceeding $1 million.
The Clothing Industry Training Authority (CLITA) was established in 1975 to provide training courses for the clothing and footwear industries. It is financed by a levy of 0.03 per cent on the Free on Board value of clothing and footwear items. produced in and exported from Hong Kong. It operates two training centres to deliver both full-time and part-time courses at technician and craftsman levels. Full- time courses targeted at Form 3 and Form 5 school leavers include merchandising, pattern making, fashion design and co-ordination, information technology and practical skills training while part-time courses cater for those currently employed in the industry. In-service personnel may attend evening courses, day-time short block courses, seminars, and self-study courses to help upgrade their technical knowledge and trade skills. The authority also helps the Employees Retraining Board with retraining programmes for workers. In addition, it offers tailor-made integrated coaching for individual garment companies, catering for their particular needs. In 2000-01, around 600 full-time and 4 300 part-time students were trained by the authority.
Training in New Technologies
The New Technologies Training Scheme administered by the VTC aims to facilitate the adoption of new technologies beneficial to Hong Kong industry and commerce. Grants are provided to help companies send their employees to acquire skills in new technologies. The training grant can be up to 75 per cent of the training cost. Eligible training programmes consist of local training courses, overseas training courses, work attachments and tailor-made training courses for individual companies. In 2001-02, 1 027 of the 1 468 applications received were approved by the VTC.
Training for People with a Disability
Five skills centres, three run by the VTC and two by non-governmental organisations, prepare people with a disability for open employment or mainstream vocational education and technical training. In the 2001-02 training year, they planned to provide 1 251 full-time places, 482 of them residential.
An inspectorate unit advises skills centres on administration, curriculum, training methods and standards, and provides guidance on training courses for students with a disability. The unit works closely with the Labour Department's Selective Placement Service to ensure that training matches the demands of the local