7
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 1976
PROGRESS IN PROJECT TO HELP SCHOOL DROPOUTS
*****
THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT PROJECT TO HELP SCHOOL DROPOUTS IS MAKING SATISFACTORY PROGRESS TOWARDS SOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF CHILDREN BETWEEN 12 AND 13 WHO ARE NEITHER AT SCHOOL NOR AT WORK.
THE PROJECT IS CARRIED OUT BY THE DISTRICT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEES IN FOUR CITY DISTRICTS OF HONG KONG EAST, KWUN TONG, WONG TAI SIN AND SHAMSHUIPO UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICES AND OTHER CONCERNED GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
THE MAIN EMPHASIS OF THE PROJECT IS TO KEEP THE CHILDREN FROM LOITERING IN THE STREETS BY HELPING OR ENCOURAGING THEM TO RE-ENROLL IN SCHOOLS OR TO RECEIVE SUITABLE PREVOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND, FOR THOSE APPROACHING 14 YEARS, TO FIND SUITABLE JOBS,
SINCE THE PROJECT STARTED LAST SEPTEMBER, MORE THAN 200 SCHOOL DROPOUTS IDENTIFIED HAVE BEEN RE-ENROLLED OR PLACED IN GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AS A RESULT OF EFFORTS IN THIS DIRECTION. SO FAR EIGHT INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS HAVE RESPONDED TO THE PROJECT BY MAKING OFFERS OF APPRENTICESHIP AND JOB VACANCIES THE NUMBER OF WHICH EXCEEDS THAT REQUIRED BY DROPOUTS.
BESIDES SCHOOL AND JOB PLACEMENTS, OTHER SERVICES OFFERED TO THE DROPOUTS INCLUDE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY SERVICES AND INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING. CAMPS, PICNICS, FRIENDSHIP GROUPS, VARIOUS INTEREST CLASSES SUCH AS TAILORING AND CARPENTRY AND WEEKEND RECREATIONAL GAME CENTRES HAVE BEEN ORGANISED OR PROVIDED FOR THE DROPOUTS. THE PURPOSES ARE TO ENABLE THEM TO HAVE SUITABLE ENTERTAINMENT AS WELL AS TO EXPERIENCE GROUP LIFE AND TO LEARN HOW TO GET ALONG WITH OTHERS. AT PRESENT, ABOUT 130 CHILDREN ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAMMES.
HOWEVER, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT SAID : +THE PROJECT IS NOT WITHOUT DIFFICULTIES AND PROBLEMS. SOME PARENTS ARE FOUND TO BE RELUCTANT IN ACCEPTING HELP OFFERED TO THEIR CHILDREN, PROBABLY DUE TO MISCONCEPTIONS AND IGNORANCE, OR BECAUSE THEY CANNOT SPARE THEIR CHILDREN HELPING WITH HOUSEHOLD CHORES TO TAKE PART IN THE PROGRAMMES.
+NONETHELESS, HAVING LAUNCHED THE PROJECT FOR ALMOST HALF A YEAR, THE DISTRICT COMMITTEES IN THE FOUR DISTRICTS HAVE FOUND THAT THE DIMENSIONS OF THE PROBLEM OF SCHOOL DROPOUTS DO NOT APPEAR AS GREAT AS IT MAY SEEM TO BE.+
1
MORE AND MORE SUPPORT ARE FORTHCOMING FROM PARENTS AND THE PUBLIC. WITH PERSEVERANCE AND IMPROVEMENT IN THE ECONOMY, CONTINUED PROGRESS TOWARDS THE SOLUTION OF THIS PROBLEM CAN BE ACHIEVED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
1
18 .....