9
ON
J
Tuesday, August 21, 1973
Twelve years ago there were no local training courses provided for
teachers of handicapped children.
At present there were four one-year in-service courses and six
annual short courses. In addition lectures on special education were
given to teachers in training in the colleges of education.
More than 1,100 teachers participated in these courses in the
last academic year and to date 168 teachers had been trained in the one-year
in-service courses.
Speaking about plans for the future, Mr. Canning said that under
the Second Development Programme for Special Education the first aim was to
expand facilities.
"Frovision has been made for 4,000 additional places in special
schools and it is anticipated that ten new special schools will be available
in 1974.
"Provision has also been made to provide 10,000 additional places
in special classes for the less-severely handicapped and plans are in hand
to open 30 additional special classes in government primary schools and 22
special classes in aided primary schools in September, 1973," he said.
On the programme's second aim to increase preventive measures by
providing more diagnostic and remedial services, Mr. Canning said it was
intended to increase these services to provide for 175,000 children a year.
To achieve this the Director said it was planned to have a second
Special Education Services Centre in Kowloon.
He urged all those who have dealings with children suspected of
handicap to refer then to the Special Education Section for assessment and
appropriate remedial treatment.
/The
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