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MONDAY, JULY 19, 1976
THE INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL WORK TRAINING IS PRESENTLY HOUSED IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S LADY TRENCH TRAINING CENTRE IN OF KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI.
ITS PROGRAMME FOR THE CERTIFICATE COURSE IN SOCIAL WORK IS DIVIDED INTO TWO ACADEMIC YEARS. FIELD WORK PLACEMENTS TAKE PLACE DURING THE SUMMER IN BOTH YEARS SO THAT STUDENTS HAVE AT LEAST 1,000 HOURS OF FIELD PRACTICE.
IN THE FIRST YEAR, AN OVERALL GENERAL APPROACH IS ADOPTED AND A DEGREE OF SPECIALISATION IS PERMITTED IN THE SECOND YEAR. IN KEEPING WITH THE OBJECTIVE TO PROVIDE FRONT LINE WORKERS FOR HONG KONG'S SOCIAL SERVICES, EMPHASIS IS LAID ON THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF TRAINING IN THE CONTEXT OF LOCAL NEEDS AND PROBLEMS.
THE INSTITUTE AT PRESENT HAS A TOTAL ENROLMENT OF 121 STUDENTS IN EITHER THEIR FIRST OR SECOND YEAR OF STUDY. ABOUT A THIRD OF THEM ARE SERVING SOCIAL WORKERS WITHOUT PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS WHO HAVE BEEN SPONSORED BY THEIR PARENT VOLUNTARY AGENCY OR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT.
THE TRAINING STAFF CONSISTS OF THE PRINCIPAL AND 18 OTHER PROFESSIONAL STAFF ALL OF WHOM ARE OFFICERS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT. THE POLYTECHNIC WILL RECRUIT ALL THE NECESSARY SOCIAL WORK TRAINING STAFF BY SEPTEMBER NEXT YEAR, BUT IN CERTAIN CASES IT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE TO SECOND TEMPORARILY SOME OF HIS STAFF TO ASSIST DURING THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD.
THE INSTITUTE'S PRESENT PREMISES IN THE LADY TRENCH TRAINING CENTRE WILL CONTINUE TO BE USED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AFTER SEPTEMBER 1977 FOR EXPANDED IN-SERVICE TRAINING COURSES FOR NURSERY WORKERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE, AND THOSE BEING TRAINED FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WORK.
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