THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 1981
PANEL OF VISITORS TO REVIEW HK EDUCATION SYSTEM
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AN INTERNATIONAL PANEL OF VISITORS HAS BEEN APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT AN OVERALL REVIEW OF HONG KONG'S EDUCATION SYSTEM.
ANNOUNCING THE DETAILS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY WERE THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION (DESIGNATE), MR KENNETH TOPLEY, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR COLVYN HAYE AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, MR Q.W. LEE.
MR TOPLEY SAID THE REVIEW WOULD EXAMINE BOTH CURRENT AND PROPOSED EDUCATION PROGRAMMES.
+DESPITE THE BENEFITS THAT HAVE BEEN DERIVED FROM THE GROWTH IN SCHOOL PLACES. THERE REMAINS CONCERN AMONG EDUCATORS AND PARENTS ABOUT WHETHER THE EDUCATION THAT CHILDREN ARE RECEIVING IS THAT BEST SUITED TO DEVELOPING THE IR TALENTS AND ENABLING THEM TO CONTRIBUTE FULLY TO THE LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY, MR TOPLEY EXPLAINED.
MR LEE STATED THAT FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF VARIOUS REVIEWS OF DIFFERENT AREAS OF EDUCATION THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAD PROPOSED THAT A BROAD LOOK SHOULD BE TAKEN AT THE WHOLE OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, FROM AN INTERNATIONAL AS WELL AS A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE.
MR HAYE SAID THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WELCOMED THE INITIATIVE TAKEN BY THE BOARD SINCE THE REVIEW WOULD PRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE STOCK OF CURRENT TARGETS AND FACILITATE DECISIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE DIRECTION OF EDUCATION AND THE PACE AT WHICH IT SHOULD DEVELOP.
THE GOVERNMENT'S AGREEMENT TO HAVE SUCH A REVIEW WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN OCTOBER 1978.
MR TOPLEY SAID THE REVIEW HAD BEEN SET IN TRAIN BY THE GOVERNMENT IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH OFFICERS OF THE ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT.
+MEMBERS OF THE SECRETARIAT OF THE OECD HAVE PROVIDED VALUABLE GUIDANCE AND ADVICE ON THE ORGANISATION OF THE REVIEW, ON THE DETAILED PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED AND ON THE SELECTION OF THE INDEPENDENT VISITORS WHO WILL CONDUCT THE REVIEW, MR TOPLEY SAID.
THE PANEL OF VISITORS CONSISTS OF:
SIR JOHN LLEWELLYN (CHAIRMAN), FORMER VICE- CHANCELLOR OF EXETER UNIVERSITY AND DIRECTOR- GENERAL OF THE BRITISH COUNCIL
DR GREG HANCOCK, FULL-TIME MEMBER OF THE SCHOOLS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIA AND CHIEF EDUCATION OFFICER, AUSTRALIAN TERRITORY SCHOOLS AUTHORITY=
/DR KAFL