problems and a few are probationers, but all have a need which cannot for the time being be satisfied in a normal home environment. During the year the Committee, which had consisted of 3 members, of which the Principal Probation Officer is ex-officio Chairman, was enlarged so that the direction of the Centre's affairs has approached more towards that usually associated with a voluntary society, while the Department has continued to give the Centre considerable support. The education and the trade training programme has been revised and the aims and objects of the Centre have been crystallized. The main purpose is to aid boys to return to a normal home life or occupation as quickly as possible, strengthened by the character training and instruction in social living which the Centre seeks to teach. Through a small endowment fund, boys can be assisted to improve their knowledge, particularly of English, at night schools after they have left. This is not only an encouragement to boys who have done well at the Centre to continue improving themselves, but in a number of cases has resulted in their securing better employment. The Committee is at present negotiating for a more permanent building on a new site as the previous proposal for a new Centre, referred to in last year's Report, has not materialized.
45. The Approved School at Castle Peak has continued to develop in accordance with the system in the United Kingdom, with local adaptations. The House and Grade system is proving satisfactory and last year there were no absconders. The Industrial and Reformatory Schools Ordinance, under which the Home operates, was amended during the year to permit amongst other things of the removal of an "incorrigible" to a more disciplined institution. The Order for detention has been made more flexible so that the actual time spent in the School is now a minimum of two and a maximum of five years. The remainder of the five-year period after leaving the School will be on Licence, for which new Rules have made detailed provision. A comprehensive cur- riculum was maintained which included trade training in carpentry, tailoring, shoemaking and leather work, rattan-weaving, and horticulture, as well as classroom education, games and sports and scouting. Visits from parents or guardians are encouraged and boys in the highest grade are permitted to visit their homes periodically. During the period there were 28 admissions and 50 discharges, leaving 91 boys in the Home at 31st March, 1960. Of the 50 discharges, 27 boys found work in tyre companies, cafés, factories, offices and carpentry firms. The remaining 23 returned to their parents or guardians.
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