THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1979
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HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HOPED TO DO THIS FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.
THIS, HE SAID, COULD ADD TO THE INITIAL TRAINING COSTS, BUT ONCE A WIDER BASE OF PRACTISING PROFESSIONALS HAS BEEN BUILT UP IN THIS FIELD, FUTURE PRACTICAL CLINICAL TRAINING SHOULD CEASE TO BE A CONSTRAINT ON MANPOWER TRAINING.
+THE STEPS WE PROPOSE TO TAKE HERE INDICATE OUR DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED IN MEETING THE TARGETS IN THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME PLAN - THE ULTIMATE AIM OF WHICH IS INTEGRATING THE DISABLED INTO THE COMMUNITY,+ HE SAID.
MR. HO SAID GOOD PROGRESS WAS BEING MADE IN IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN AND THAT APART FROM DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE FIELD, EXPANSION IN THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN WILL IMPROVE HOSPITAL AND CLINICAL FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED.
THE CODES OF AID FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION HAVE BEEN REVISED TO PROVIDE FOR PARA-MEDICAL STAFF AND SOCIAL WORKERS IN SPECIAL SCHOOLS SO THAT A COMPREHENSIVE AND MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH IN REHABILITATING DISABLED SCHOOL CHILDREN CAN BE CARRIED OUT MORE EFFECTIVELY, HE SAID.
THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL PLACES NEXT YEAR FOR DISABLED CHILDREN WILL GROW FROM 23 000 TO 26 000 WITH A MAJOR EFFORT BEING MADE TO INCREASE THE PROVISION FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.
HE SAID VOCATIONAL TRAINING FACILITIES FOR DISABLED PEOPLE WILL BE BROUGHT WITHIN THE AEGIS OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, AND SUBJECT TO THE VOTING OF THE NECESSARY FUNDS THESE FACILITIES WILL BE FURTHER DEVELOPED.
+PHYSICAL ACCESS IS BEING IMPROVED TO ENABLE MORE DISABLED STUDENTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AND GAIN ADMISSION INTO TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS- THESE MEASURES WILL NATURALLY FACILITATE THE FULLER PARTICIPATION OF THE DISABLED IN THE NORMAL LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY, MR. HO SAID.
ON EMPLOYMENT FOR THE DISABLED, MR. HO SAID THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE HAD GIVEN A LEAD BY INSTRUCTING HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS TO ACCORD SOME DEGREE OF PREFERENCE TO QUALIFIED DISABLED CANDIDATES SEEKING EMPLOYMENT IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
A CENTRALISED SELECTIVE PLACEMENT SERVICE FOR VULNERABLE GROUPS WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT EARLY IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.
+THE
ON EDUCATION, MR. HO SAID THIS WAS ALWAYS A SUBJECT OF CONCERN TO PARENTS FOR THE SAKE OF THEIR CHILDREN. GOVERNMENT FULLY SHARES THIS CONCERN, HE ADDED.
ON THE TEACHING OF CHINESE THROUGH THE USE OF SIMPLIFIED CHARACTERS IN WRITING, MR. HO QUOTED THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION WHO SPOKE ON THE SAME SUBJECT IN 1978 WHEN HE SAID IT WOULD BE +MOST UNWISE AND A GREAT DISSERVICE+ TO PUPILS TO STOP TEACHING THE TRADITIONAL SCRIPT IN THE SCHOOLS.
/COMMENTING ON