WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1974.
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EDUCATION SYSTEM TO BE MORE SOCIALLY DIRECTED *******
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, SPOKE ABOUT THE CHANGING FUNCTION OF HONG KONG'S EDUCATION SYSTEM IN ITS RELATIONSHIP TO SOCIETY IN HIS LUNCHEON ADDRESS TO THE LIONS CLUB OF BAYVIEW THIS AFTERNOON.
THE EFFECT OF THE NEW SYSTEM MEANS THAT IN FUTURE ALL CHILDREN IN THE 12 TO 14 AGE GROUP WILL BE PROVIDED-WITH SUBSIDIZED EDUCATION IN FORMS 1 TO 3.
AT PRESENT SOMETHING LIKE HALF THE CHILDREN IN THIS AGE GROUP ARE GETTING SUBSIDIZED EDUCATION.
HE SAID THE EMPHASIS IN SCHOOLS UP TO NOW HAS BEEN ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF ACADEMIC STANDARDS. SINCE HONG KONG WAS GOING INTO MASS SECONDARY EDUCATION, PRIORITIES AND THE WHOLE APPROACH TO EDUCATION WERE GOING TO CHANGE.
IN MR. TOPLEY'S VIEW THIS MEANS THAT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO BE MORE SOCIALLY DIRECTED AND THE FUNCTION OF THE SECONDARY TEACHER WILL HAVE TO BE MODIFIED.
MUCH MORE ATTENTION WOULD HAVE TO BE PAID TO THE NEEDS OF PUPILS IN THEIR SOCIAL SETTING.
ON THE QUESTION OF WHAT WAS TO BE DONE TO CHANGE SOME OF THE EMPHASIS IN SCHOOLS FROM PURE ACADEMIC ATTAINMENT TO A MORE SOCIAL TYPE OF EDUCATION, THE DIRECTOR SAID THAT IN HIS VIEW THERE WERE THREE THINGS TO DO.
FIRSTLY, THE SYLLABUSES, I.E. WHAT IS ACTUALLY TAUGHT IN THE CLASSROOM, MUST BE MADE RELEVANT AND APPROPRIATE TO THE LEVELS OF ABILITY AND INTEREST OF THE CHILDREN TAKING THE LESSON.
SECONDLY, +WE NEED MORE CAREER GUIDANCE AND TRAINING IN DECISION-MAKING FOR THE CHILDREN IN OUR SCHOOLS.+
THE PUPILS MUST BE ABLE TO TAKE A REALISTIC VIEW OF THEIR CAPABILITIES AND OF THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO THEM ON LEAVING SCHOOL.
LASTLY, MR. TOPLEY SPOKE ABOUT THE NEED OF SOCIAL WORKERS TO BE ATTACHED TO SCHOOLS OR GROUPS OF SCHOOLS WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSISTING PUPILS WHO HAVE ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS IN SCHOOLS OR HOME AND FAMILY PROBLEMS WHICH CLEARLY REQUIRED HELP AND ADVICE.
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/THE DIRECTOR SAID