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Sunday, October 1, 1972
The Government Lotteries Fund has made it possible for hearing aids
to be provided free to children in need of them.
Every year, the Special Education Section conducts speech screening
tests for primary three pupils of government primary schools. About 4,000
pupils are screened and 300 are given remedial therapy each year.
Teachers are given basic knowledge about pupils with minor speech
defects and children with more serious speech and language problems are referred
to the Speech and Hearing Centre for special training.
An educational counsellor is always on hand to assist the specialists
in winning the understanding and co-operation of the parents and teachers,
without which rapid improvement would not be made.
Not only primary school pupils receive the benefit of services
provided by the Special Education Section. Among the list of people presently
under the care of the specialists are a number of secondary students.
When the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examinations are held,
a special centre is set up for students with difficulties. There they are
given special arrangements based on recommendations given by the specialists
after consideration of their difficulties.
A common aspect in the work of all the specialists in the Special
Education Section is the help they give in teacher training.
Besides operating one-year in-service courses in special education,
they also conduct seminars and short courses for teachers in ordinary schools
and student teachers at the three colleges of education.
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