POLYTECHNIC
28
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1979
UNPARALLELED IN ANY OTHER INSTITUTIONS
******
THE GROWTH OF THE POLYTECHNIC TO ITS PRESENT SCALE IS SAID BY WELL-KNOWN ACADEMIC LEADERS TO BE UNPARALLELED IN ANY OTHER SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS, THE HON. JAMES WU TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
TABLING THE POLYTECHNIC'S 1977-78 ANNUAL REPORT. MR. WU EXPRESSED GRATITUDE FOR THE SUPPORT IT RECEIVED +PARTICULARLY DURING THE CRUCIAL YEARS OF 1974 AND 1975 WHEN, DESPITE SETBACKS, THE POLYTECHNIC WAS ALLOWED TO EXPAND AT TOP SPEED.
MR. WU, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE NEWLY CONSTITUTED COUNCIL OF THE POLYTECHNIC, REPORTED A DRAMATIC GROWTH AND INCREASE IN ALL AREAS, WITH ALMOST 6,000 FULL-TIME AND 17,500 PART-TIME STUDENTS, SHOWING A 25 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
MR. WU ALSO STRESSED THAT THERE WAS A FURTHER DECREASE OF FULL- TIME POLYTECHNIC GRADUATES UNABLE TO FIND EMPLOYMENT.
+THIS FIGURE HAS DROPPED TO AN ALL-TIME LOW OF 3.6 PER CENT AND IT IS PARTICULARLY ENCOURAGING, HE SAID, THAT DESPITE EARLIER FEARS TO THE CONTRARY IN CERTAIN QUARTERS, A GREATLY INCREASED OUTPUT OF STUDENTS FROM TERTIARY TECHNICAL EDUCATION IS NOT RESULTING IN MORE GRADUATES COMPETING FOR FEWER JOBS.
+ INDEED IT WOULD APPEAR THAT AT PRESENT, JOBS ARE BEING CREATED AT A FASTER RATE THAN THE POLYTECHNIC CAN PRODUCE MORE GRADUATES TO FILL THEM, AND THAT THERE ARE FAR TOO FEW PLACES FOR ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS, IN SOME CASES, AS FEW AS ONE FOR 100,+ HE EMPHASISED.
MR. WU SAID THE NEW SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK COMPLETED ITS FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION UNDER THE POLYTECHNIC'S ROOF, AND A NEW INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE BECAME OPERATIONAL LAST SEPTEMBER.
+THESE TWO UNITS ARE OF COURSE A VITAL COMPLEMENT TO GOVERNMENT'S PLANS TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE RANGE OF SOCIAL SERVICE AVAILABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, HE ADDED.
MR. WU NOTED THAT THE ENLARGED POLYTECHNIC COUNCIL HAS BROUGHT A WIDER SPECTRUM OF EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE INTO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE POLYTECHNIC'S AFFAIRS +WHICH WILL STAND US IN GOOD STEAD IN THE YEARS OF CONSOLIDATION WHICH LIE AHEAD.+
/09
Page 30Page 31