FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1974
ON THE DEMAND FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE SECONDARY SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAMINATION, MR. PARRY SAID THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS WORKING TOWARDS ITS ABOLITION. BUT IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO PREDICT WHEN THE EXAMINATION WOULD DISAPPEAR. IT MAY BE RECALLED THAT THE S.S.E.E. WAS IN FACT INTRODUCED AT THE REQUEST OF THE SCHOOLS. THE PROBLEM WAS HOW TO REPLACE THIS EXAMINATION WITH A FAIR SELECTION PROCEDURE WHICH WILL ALLOCATE STUDENTS TO THEIR RESPECTIVE SCHOOLS. CUMULATIVE RECORDS AND A MORE RIGID REGIONALISATION OF ALLOCATION MIGHT BE ONE WAY BUT THE PROBLEM IS VERY COMPLICATED AND IT MIGHT WELL END UP WITH SCHOOLS SETTING THEIR OWN SELECTION EXAMINATIONS.
ON THEIR REQUEST FOR ARRANGEMENTS TO ACCOMMODATE PRIMARY 6 SCHOOL LEAVERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOCATED FORM 1 PLACES, MR. PARRY SAID THAT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CHILDREN AGED 12 TO 13 YEARS WHO ARE NEITHER AT SCHOOL NOR AT WORK IS CERTAINLY A PROBLEM. THE ONLY ULTIMATE SATISFACTORY SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM IS TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACES FOR ALL THE CHILDREN CONCERNED AND THEN TO ENSURE THAT THESE CHILDREN CAN AND DO ATTEND SCHOOL. THE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING TOWARDS THIS END, ITS POLICY BEING TO PROVIDE 3 YEARS OF AIDED EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN AGED 12 TO 14 YEARS OF AGE. HOWEVER, THE PROVISION OF THESE PLACES WILL TAKE TIME. JUST HOW LONG WILL DEPEND ON THE DETAILS TO BE GIVEN IN THE FORTHCOMING +WHITE PAPER+ ON SECONDARY SCHOOL EXPANSION.
MR. PARRY THANKED THE REPRESENTATIVES FOR EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERN FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION IN HONG KONG. HE SAID THAT THEIR VIEWS WOULD AGAIN BE CONVEYED TO THE GOVERNMENT.
FIREMEN GRADUATION DAY
******
NOTE TO EDITORS: COMMODORE J.A.G. EVANS, COMMODORE IN CHARGE
HONG KONG, WILL INSPECT A PASSING OUT PARADE OF SOME 160 FIREMEN AT THE FIRE SERVICES TRAINING SCHOOL IN PAT HEUNG TOMORROW (SATURDAY).
THE NEW RECRUITS HAVE COMPLETED SIX MONTHS OF TRAINING
AND AFTER THEIR +GRADUATION+ TOMORROW WILL BE POSTED TO VARIOUS FIRE STATIONS.
AFTER THE PARADE AND AN ADDRESS BY COMMODORE EVANS, THERE WILL BE DRILLS, EQUIPMENT DEMONSTRATIONS AND EXERCISES.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO COVER THE OCCASION ARE
WELCOME TO DO SO.
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