corresponding classes in Queen's College and King's College, there is an annual examination for entrance to Class 3 in one or other of the two senior schools.
Gap Road, Tai Po, Un Long and Cheung Chau schools are "Lower Grade" schools with classes 8 to 6. Gap Road boys usually go on to Wantsai School and those Tai Po boys who continue usually do so at Yaumati School.
The attendance at these schools is ordinarily good, but the Head Master of Queen's College found it necessary at the annual prize-giving to warn parents of the harm done by withdrawing boys temporarily for trivial reasons.
During the year the syllabus of the District Schools, which is the same for the Remove and Lower classes at Queen's College and King's College, was revised by a Departmental Committee consisting of the Inspector of English Schools and the six head masters concerned. It was to come into force in January, 1981, and will reduce the number of new subjects to be encountered in Class 3.
A revision of the Vernacular syllabus in English schools was under consideration but as this had not been completed at the end of the year it does not fall within the scope of this report.
Vernacular Schools:-There was an increase in numbers at the Vernacular Middle School: two new masters joined the staff: two new classrooms were added, unfortunately restricting the already insufficient playing area attached to this school. The attendance in the Higher Primary, Normal and Middle School classes were respectively 125, 30 and 68.
The examiners at the final Normal examination report that work in general has improved "though there is still room for improvement in the syllabus of Chinese Classics and Literature".
Numbers at the Vernacular Normal School for Women showed a slight increase.
The results at the final Normal examination were disappointing. Premature promotion must be avoided.
The Normal school for rural teachers at Tai Po suffers from poor material.
Technical Institute :-The number on the roll was 798 an increase of 200 on the previous year. The numbers attending the Vernacular and English Teachers' classes were respectively 223 and 53. These classes are a not unsuccessful attempt