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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1977
TECHNICAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE TO BE ESTABLISHED
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STEPS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN SEPARATE FROM PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER ON SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH A TECHNICAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON. KENNETH TOPLEY SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON.
HE WAS SPEAKING IN THE DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS IN REPLY TO A POINT RAISED BY DR. THE HON. S.Y. CHUNG WHO STRESSED THE NEED FOR GREATER CO-ORDINATION OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMMES.
MR. TOPLEY SAID: +ALL THAT IS NOW REQUIRED IS FINAL AGREEMENT AS TO ITS COMPOSITION.
+ IN THE MEANTIME I HAVE SET UP A DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE WHICH IS ALREADY PREPARING MATERIAL FOR SUBMISSION TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION COMMITTEE WHEN IT IS CONVENED.+
HE STATED THAT MUCH ATTENTION WAS GIVEN IN THE GREEN PAPER TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF SECONDARY EDUCATION AND MAKING IT SUITABLE TO CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS.
+ IT IS INTENDED THAT AS MANY STUDENTS AS POSSIBLE SHALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY A TECHNICAL SUBJECT AT FORMS 4 AND 5 LEVEL. THE NEW SCHOOLS WHICH ARE BEING BUILT WILL HAVE SUFFICIENT LABORATORY AND WORKSHOP FACILITIES FOR THE PURPOSE.
+ IT IS PROPOSED TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR CONVERSIONS IN EXISTING SCHOOLS TO ENABLE TECHNICAL SUBJECTS TO BE DEVELOPED. CENTRAL WORKSHOPS WILL BE PIONEERED ON A PILOT BASIS FOR THE PARTICULAR USE OF THOSE SCHOOLS WHICH HAVE INSUFFICIENT SPACE TO DEVELOP FACILITIES FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION,+ MR. TOPLEY SAID.
MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, MR. TOPLEY SAID, THE QUALITY OF TEACHING MUST IMPROVE AND IT WAS PROPOSED THAT THE STANDARD COURSE AT COLLEGES OF EDUCATION SHOULD BE LENGTHENED FROM TWO YEARS TO THREE YEARS.
+COURSES OF IN-SERVICE TRAINING OF TEACHERS HAVE BEEN A FEATURE OF OUR ARRANGEMENTS FOR KEEPING TEACHERS UP-TO-DATE. IT IS NOW PROPOSED TO INTRODUCE REGULAR COURSES OF REFRESHER TRAINING DURING A TEACHER'S CAREER.
+ IF THESE PROPOSALS ARE ADOPTED IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE, AS HAS BEEN SUGGESTED BY MR. ALEX WU, TO USE THE PREMISES OF ONE OF THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION AS AN INTERIM HOME FOR A PROFESSIONAL ARTS TRAINING CENTRE, MR. TOPLEY POINTED OUT.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, MR. WU WOULD BE INTERESTED TO NOTE THAT IT WAS ALSO PROPOSED TO DEVELOP MUSIC AT THE SENIOR SECONDARY LEVEL.
/SPEAKING BRIEFLY