:
J
TUESDAY, JULY 1, 1975.
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME CAMPING REMAINS MOST POPULAR ACTIVITY
*****
THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE, FROM PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS, WILL TAKE PART IN CAMPS BEING ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IN THIS YEAR'S SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME.
THE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED $514,050 FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB AS A DONATION TOWARDS FINANCING SOME OF ITS SUMMER ACTIVITIES, WITH THE REMAINDER COMING FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB'S CONTRIBUTION REPRESENTS A 15 PER CENT INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR'S DONATION. THIS HAS ENABLED 583 SCHOOLS TO BE GIVEN SEPARATE ALLOCATIONS.
CAMPING REMAINS THE MOST POPULAR ACTIVITY AMONG YOUNGER AND OLDER PUPILS. THIS YEAR, 4,653 CHILDREN, ACCOMPANIED BY 331 PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS AND 6,874 PUPILS, ACCOMPANIED BY 429 SECONDARY TEACHERS, WILL BE OUT CAMPING FOR A FEW DAYS DURING JULY AND AUGUST.
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IS HELPING THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, AND PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS, BY MAKING AVAILABLE, AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, CHOICE SITES IN RURAL AREAS FOR SCHOOL FORESTRY WORK CAMPS.
PARTICIPANTS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE FOR SIX DAYS IN A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT, AND TO WORK IN BEAUTIFUL AND INTERESTING SURROUNDINGS WHILE THEY INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN SUPERVISED MANAGEMENT OF THE COUNTRYSIDE FOR THEIR OWN EDUCATION AND THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY.
PHYSICALLY-HANDICAPPED YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING NEGLECTED AND THERE WILL BE ONE-DAY CAMPS FOR THEM TO BE HELD AT THE LIFE CLUB TRAINING HEADQUARTERS, REPULSE BAY.
THERE WILL BE +CAMPS IN REVERSE,+ A SCHEME BY WHICH RURAL CHILDREN ARE BROUGHT TO THE DIOCESAN YOUTH CENTRE, IN POK FU LAM, FOR FIVE DAYS OF VISITS TO WELL-KNOWN URBAN LANDMARKS, INTERSPERSED WITH OTHER ACTIVITIES IN WHICH, AS COUNTRY CHILDREN, THEY DO NOT HAVE MUCH OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE.
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S VARIED PROGRAMME WILL ALSO INCLUDE A +LEARN-TO-SWIM+ SCHEME FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN, AND SUMMER COURSES FOR CANDIDATES OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S AWARD SCHEME WHO WISH TO MAKE FULL USE OF THEIR SUMMER HOLIDAYS TO COMPLETE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BRONZE, SILVER, AND GOLD AWARDS.
A NEW PROJECT BEING IMPLEMENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT THIS YEAR WILL CONSIST OF SUMMER CLASSES FOR FOLK DANCING. THE IDEA IS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS TO MEET AND TO ENJOY GOOD FELLOWSHIP THROUGH DANCING.
/5