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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1974
NEW DIRECTION IN EDUCATION SYSTEM
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THE WHITE PAPER ON SECONDARY EDUCATION DURING THE NEXT DECADE GENUINELY POINTS TO A NEW DIRECTION IN HONG KONG'S EDUCATION SYSTEM. +IT DOES THIS BY CALLING FOR A NEW GENERAL CURRICULUM IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF SECONDARY EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IT CALLS FOR A MORE PRACTICAL APPROACH IN THE THREE JUNIOR SECONDARY YEARS.
MR. TOPLEY STATED: +IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS CURRICULUM FOR WHICH WE INTEND TO PRODUCE SUBSTANTIAL DRAFT PROPOSALS BY MARCH 1975 MUST BE TAUGHT AT DIFFERENT LEVELS AND DEPTHS IN THE GREAT VARIETY OF HONG KONG SCHOOLS.
+IT WILL TAKE TIME TO ESTABLISH NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT CALLS FOR GREATER USE OF EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS BUT BECAUSE IT CALLS FOR A NEW APPROACH IN TEACHING, FOR MORE PROBLEM SOLVING, LESS MEMORY WORK AND MORE PRACTICAL THINKING. THIS CANNOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.+
ANSWERING A POINT RAISED BY MRS. JOYCE SYMONS, THE DIRECTOR SAID THE CURRICULUM BEING PREPARED BY THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WAS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE, ADOPTED BY THAT COMMITTEE, THAT ALL STUDENTS SHOULD HAVE COMPLÉTED A COURSE DESIGNED TO ENABLE THEM TO TAKE THEIR PLACE AS GOOD CITIZENS OF HONG KONG READY TO FACE THE DEMANDS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYMENT AS WELL AS TO LIVE A SATISFYING, AND REWARDING PERSONAL AND FAMILY LIFE'.
AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE IT IS RECOGNISED THAT MANY STUDENTS WILL BE PROCEEDING TO FORM V, THE COURSE MUST ALSO LAY FIRM FOUNDATIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY OF THE NORMAL ACADEMIC, PRACTICAL AND CULTURAL SUBJECTS.
IT IS PLANNED TO HAVE NEW SUGGESTED SYLLABUSES READY FOR SEPTEMBER 1975 AS CHILDREN WILL BE ENTERING THE THREE-YEAR COURSE ON THAT DATE.
DEALING WITH THE CRITICAL THEME THAT SUBSIDIZED OR FREE SCHOOL PLACES SHOULD BE PROVIDED AT ALL LEVELS, MR. TOPLEY SAID: +A MAJOR THEME OF THE WHITE PAPER IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO ADVANCE IN THIS DIRECTION BUT WITHIN ITS RESOURCES.+
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF PROVIDING THREE YEARS SUBSIDIZED EDUCATION FOR ALL MADE IT POSSIBLE TO DO AWAY WITH THE SECONDARY SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAMINATION BUT NOT BEFORE THE PLACES WERE ACTUALLY PROVIDED.
+THIS IS ALREADY A MASSIVE OPERATION AND CORRESPONDINGLY EXPENSIVE,+ HE EMPHASISED.
/MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION