. 8
Tuesday, August 21, 1973
MORE SCHOOLS FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
luch progresa has been made to provide education for handicapped
children in Hong Kong since the Education Department's Special Education
Section was established 13 years ago, the Director of Education, Mr. J.
Canning said this (Tuesday) morning.
Speaking at the opening of the First Conference on Special
Education at the Grantham College of Education, Mr. Canning said that at
present there were 32 special schools for severely handicapped children
compared with eight in 1961.
"These are all run by religious or voluntary organisations who
are the pioneers of this form of education," he said.
The Director pointed out that in 1961 there were no special
classes in ordinary primary schools for less severely handicapped children
whereas today there were 54 such classes in government primary schools →→
44 for slow-learning children, eight for partially hearing children and two
for partially sighted children.
In 1961 there were no educational assessment or remedial services.
¡Today, assessment services include audiometric screening,
audiological testing, speech screening and testing, psychological testing
and educational assessment.
"Remedial services include auditory training, speech therapy and
special classes,
"In the last academic year 22,000 children were doalt with by the
services which are provided by the Special Education Section of the Education
Department," he said.
/Twelve