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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1977
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION REFERRED TO THE THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF ADULT EDUCATION WHICH DISTINGUISH IT FROM OTHER FIELDS OF EDUCATION AND WHICH MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SET WELL-DEFINED PRIORITIES IN A WELL-DEFINED POLICY.
THE FIRST IS THE PART-TIME AND VOLUNTARY NATURE OF STUDENT PARTICIPATION WHICH MEANS THAT THE COURSES ARE SUBJECT TO MARKET CONS IDERATIONS,
+ADULTS ATTEND COURSES BECAUSE THEY WANT TO. IF COURSES DO NOT ATTRACT THEM, THEY DO NOT REGISTER. IF COURSES DO NOT PLEASE THEM, THEY STOP COMING..... WE MUST PLEASE THE CUSTOMER, HE EXPLAINED.
THE SECOND IS THAT ADULT EDUCATION REL IES LARGELY ON THE BETTER USE OF EXISTING RESOURCES. MR. TOPLEY EXPLAINED THAT SOME TEACHERS WERE PREPARED TO DO MORE IN THEIR SPARE TIME AND SOME BUILDINGS WERE NOT FULLY USED THROUGHOUT THE DAY OR YEAR.
+NOT TO USE THESE VALUABLE RESOURCES BUT TO BASE ADULT EDUCATION CHIEFLY ON FRESH RESOURCES IN STAFF AND ACCOMMODATION WOULD BE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE AND COULD BE DESCRIBED AS WASTEFUL,+ HE SAID.
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION POINTED OUT THAT THE MARSHALL ING AND DEPLOYMENT OF EXISTING RESOURCES WERE ALSO SUBJECT TO CONSTRAINTS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO COMPULSION ON TEACHERS TO TEACH ADDITIONAL COURSES AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR SCHOOL PREMISES MUST BE PERSUADED TO RELEASE ACCOMMODATION FOR SUCH CLASSES.
+MARKET CONSIDERATIONS ARE AGAIN IMPORTANT AND BOTH TEACHERS AND OWNERS OF PREMISES MUST BE OFFERED A DEAL SUFFICIENTLY ATTRACTIVE TO ENCOURAGE THEIR WILLING COOPERATION, + HE SAID.
STAGGERED WORKING HOURS *****
THE GOVERNMENT IS IN PRINCIPLE PREPARED TO CONSIDER ANY PRACTICAL SUGGESTION ON A STAGGERED WORKING HOURS SYSTEM WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE CIVIL SERVICE TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM OF TRAFF IC CONGESTION AND OVERCROWDING IN RESTAURANTS DURING PEAK HOURS.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON. DENIS BRAY IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. WONG LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY,
MR. BRAY INDICATED THAT MATERIAL WAS BEING ASSEMBLED ON THE SUBJECT IN ORDER TO SEEK THE VIEWS OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
+ IN PRINCIPLE, THE GOVERNMENT IS PREPARED TO CONSIDER ANY PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS THAT EMERGE ABOUT ENCOURAGEMENT OF STAGGERING WORKING HOURS, BUT IT WOULD STOP SHORT OF COERCION, HE SAID.
MR. BRAY NOTED THAT THERE WAS A SPREAD OF NORMAL WORKING HOURS BETWEEN 8.30 A.M. AND 5.30 P.M. WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE, WITH SHIFT AND OVERTIME WORK TAKING PLACE OUTSIDE THESE HOURS.
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