SUNDAY, JANUARY 6, 1980
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+MY SCHOOL LIFE HAS NOT BEEN DIFFERENT FROM OTHERS. MY CLASSMATES AND I STUDY AND DO PROJECTS TOGETHER AND AFTER SCHOOL WE OFTEN GO TO THE CINEMA AND ATTEND CONCERTS, MING-KUNG SAID.
+I FIND THE TEACHERS AND FELLOW STUDENTS ALL VERY HELPFUL AND FRIENDLY, AND INDEED HAVE ENJOYED SCHOOLING VERY MUCH, HE ADDED.
MR. C.K. LAM, SENIOR INSPECTOR IN THE EDUCATION OF THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SECTION, SAID THAT EDUCATIONAL PLACEMENT SERVICE FOR INTEGRATION OF PHYSICALLY HAND ICAPPED CHILDREN IN ORDINARY SCHOOLS WAS STARTED IN THE EARLY 1960'S BUT INITIAL RESPONSE FROM THE SCHOOLS WAS NOT SO GOOD.
+HOWEVER, MANY SCHOOL PRINCIPALS ARE NOW VERY WILLING TO TAKE
IN PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED STUDENTS, HE SAID.
+EVEN MORE ENCOURAGING, SOME OF THEM APPROACH US ON THE IR OWN INITIATIVE TO INFORM US OF THE ADMISSIONS OF THESE STUDENTS AND TO KEEP US INFORMED OF THE IR PROGRESS OR REFER THOSE WHO HAVE LEARNING AND ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS TO THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SECTION FOR GUIDANCE, HE ADDED.
MR. LAM EXPLAINED THAT WHENEVER POSSIBLE, PHYSICALLY HAND ICAPPED CHILDREN SHOULD BE PLACED IN ORDINARY SCHOOLS SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN IN THE SAME ENVIRONMENT AS THE NON-HANDICAPPED.
ONLY THOSE WHO BY REASON OF THE IR SEVERE HANDICAP CANNOT BE SATISFACTORILY EDUCATED IN ORDINARY SCHOOLS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR PLACEMENT IN SPECIAL SCHOOLS.
HE SAID WHEN PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN WERE REFERRED TO THE SECTION FOR EDUCATIONAL PLACEMENT, THEY WOULD BE ASSESSED EDUCATIONALLY AND, IF NECESSARY, A MEDICAL ASSESSMENT WILL BE ARRANGED FOR THEM BEFORE CONSIDERATION WAS GIVEN FOR PLACEMENT IN ORDINARY SCHOOLS.
ONCE THEY ENROL IN A SCHOOL, THEIR HEALTH AND MOBILITY, ACADEMIC PROGRESS, SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT AND ADAPTABILITY IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT ARE REGULARLY FOLLOWED UP AND REVIEWED WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND TEACHERS.
MR. LAM SAID INSPECTORS OF THE SECTION OFTEN PAY VISITS TO SCHOOLS AND HOLD DISCUSSIONS WITH PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS ABOUT THE PROBLEMS OF THEIR HANDICAPPED STUDENTS.
+THE SECTION ALSO OFFERS COUNSELLING SERVICE TO PARENTS OF PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PUPILS AND GIVE ADVICE ON VARIOUS PROBLEMS SUCH AS SCHOOL LEAVING OR TRANSFER, RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME AND MATTERS RELATING TO THEIR CHILDREN'S PRESENT AND FUTURE EDUCATION,+ MR. LAM SAID.
PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED STUDENTS TAKING VARIOUS PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS CAN BE REFERRED TO SPECIAL EDUCATION SECTION FOR SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS AND IF NECESSARY SPECIAL EXAMINATION CENTRES ARE SET UP FOR THEM,
SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY COURSES ON EDUCATION OF PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN ARE ALSO CONDUCTED FOR ORDINARY SCHOOL TEACHERS ON BASIC KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNIQUES OF TEACHING THESE STUDENTS IN A NORMAL SCHOOL SETTING. SO FAR, MORE THAN 1 200 TEACHERS HAVE ATTENDED THESE COURSES.
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