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Monday, July 17, 1972
DESIRABILITY OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING AS A FORM OF EDUCATION
The Deputy Director of Social Welfare, Mr. Thomas C.Y. Lee,
today urged industrialists and community leaders to help spread the
notion among youth that education in vocational training should be
regarded as desirable.
He was speaking at a graduation ceremony of the Practical Training
Centre of the Churches.
Mr. Lee said trainees should appreciate the value of their work,
and it was wrong to dismiss "blue collar" careers as affording little
prospect for the future.
He recalled the words of the Governor at the opening of the
recent Vocational Training Exhibition that practical training, as a form
of education, was "highly desirable in itself, and not a second best."
The Deputy Director praised the Centre for offering courses
in automobile maintenance, electrical trades, refrigeration and air-conditioning,
in addition to lessons in Chinese, English, mathematics, Biblical knowledge,
physical training and general knowledge.
In his view, graduates should be proud of the Centre's success in
placing trained students in appropriate jobs - 100 per cent in the motor-
car industry, 100 per cent in refrigeration and air-conditioning, and 93 por
cent in the electrical trades.
Mr. Lee asked graduates to take with them into their careers the precepts
taught at the Centre, and to contribute positively to the community of which
they formed a part.
Note to Editors: Copies of the full Chinese text of Mr. Lee's speech
are distributed separately in the Press boxes, Government Information Services, later this evening.
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