FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1975
MAIN OBJECTIVES OF PRIMARY EDUCATION STRESSED
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THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY TODAY URGED PRIMARY SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE PUPILS WITH ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITIES TO ENABLE THEM TO DEVELOP MORAL AND SPIRITUAL QUALITIES AS WELL AS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR CHARACTER.
+THROUGH PRECEPT, EXAMPLE AND PRACTICE, THE SCHOOL WILL PROGRESSIVELY PROVIDE THE ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES WHICH CONSERVE WHAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE GOOD FOR THE FULL DEVELOPMENT OF ALL HUMAN BEINGS,+ MR. TOPLEY TOLD THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG ISLAND WEST.
SPEAKING IN CANTONESE, MR. TOPLEY DWELT ON WHAT HE CONSIDERED THE TO BE THE THREE OBJECTIVES OF PRIMARY EDUCATION IN HONG KONG BASIC SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ATTITUDES AND HABITS.
SINCE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN THEMSELVES WERE NOT ENOUGH, THE DIRECTOR SAID PRIMARY SCHOOLS SHOULD SEEK TO FOSTER AND DEVELOP IN PUPILS AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE DUTIES OF GOOD CITIZENS, RESPECT FOR THE RIGHTS, BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS OF OTHERS AND RESPECT FOR LAW, ORDER AND SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
HE ALSO CALLED ON STUDENTS TO HAVE OPENNESS OF MIND, TO HAVE PRIDE IN GOOD WORKMANSHIP, TO USE THEIR LEISURE WISELY AND TO HAVE WHOLESOME HABITS AND ATTITUDES LEADING TO SOUND PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.
MR. TOPLEY POINTED OUT THAT WHILE THE ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN BASIC SKILLS SHOULD NOT BE REGARDED AS AN END IN ITSELF, IT MUST BE REALISED THAT, WITHOUT THEM, CHILDREN WOULD LACK THE ESSENTIAL FOUNDATIONS FOR THEIR FURTHER EDUCATION AND THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR EFFECTIVE AND RESPONSIBLE PARTICIPATION IN LIFE.
+THE SKILLS OF COMMUNICATION, MANIPULATION, CALCULATION AND REASONING ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO PERSONAL AND SOCIAL COMPETENCE. THEIR MASTERY REQUIRES MUCH CONCENTRATED, SPECIFIC INSTRUCTION, SUPPORTED BY ADEQUATE PRACTICE,+ HE STRESSED.
THE DIRECTOR ADDED: +ESSENTIAL THOUGH THEY ARE, THE SKILLS BECOME MEANINGFUL ONLY WHEN THEY ARE SUPPORTED BY A BODY OF FACTUAL KNOWLEDGE WITH WHICH AND THROUGH WHICH DECISIONS MAY BE REACHED AND PROBLEMS SOLVED.+
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