WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1981
5.
INSTEAD OF LIMITING THE PROPORTION OF DISCRETIONARY PLACES TO 15 PER CENT AS WAS PROPOSED IN THE GREEN PAPER, IT IS NOW INTENDED TO PERMIT SCHOOLS TO OFFER UP TO 30 PER CENT OF THE IR PRIMARY 1 PLACES TO PUPILS FROM WITHIN THE DISTRICT, UP TO 35 PER CENT TO PUPILS FROM EITHER WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE DISTRICT, HAVING SOME CONNECTION WITH THE SCHOOL, WITH THE REMAINING 35 PER CENT ALLOCATED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO PUPILS LIVING IN THE DISTRICT.
IN THIS WAY, SCHOOLS WILL BE ABLE TO ALLOCATE UP TO 65 PER CENT OF THEIR PLACES TO PUPILS HAVING SOME CONNECTION WITH THE SCHOOL, AND 65 PER CENT OF THE PLACES TO PUPILS LIVING IN THE DISTRICT.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE WHITE PAPER REITERATES THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO BAN TESTS AND EXAMINATIONS FOR ENTRY TO PRIMARY SCHOOLS BUT CONCEDES THAT PROPERLY CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS MAY BE PERMITTED IF REQUIRED.
INTERVIEWS WILL NOT INVOLVE SKILLS OR KNOWLEDGE THAT HAVE TO BE SPECIFICALLY LEARNED AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL BE PRESENT TO ENSURE THAT NO TESTS OF ANY SORT ARE GIVEN.
A SYSTEM OF RECORD CARDS WILL ALSO BE INTRODUCED TO MONITOR PUPILS' PROGRESS THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES. BUT THESE CARDS WILL NOT CONTAIN REFERENCES TO THE PUPILS' ABILITY OR CONDUCT.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STANDARD OF RURAL EDUCATION
THE WHITE PAPER REAFFIRMS THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO IMPROVE THE STANDARDS OF RURAL SCHOOLS SO THAT CHILDREN EDUCATED IN THEM WILL BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE JUNFOR SECONDARY COURSE.
IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE THE BUILDING OF SOME CENTRALLY LOCATED SCHOOLS TO REPLACE SUB-STANDARD VILLAGE SCHOOLS, MORE REGULAR INSPECTION BY THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE AND PRIORITY IN THE PROVISION OF TEACHING RESOURCES. THE PROPOSALS FOR CENTRALLY LOCATED SCHOOLS AROSE FROM DISCUSSION ON THE GREEN PAPER IN THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD.
IN SUMMARISING THE OBJECTS AND AIMS OF THE WHITE PAPER AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES POINTED OUT THAT THEY WERE THE RAISING OF STANDARDS AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY IN PRIMARY EDUCATION AND PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES.
+ IT IS, OF COURSE, SELF-EVIDENT THAT INVESTMENT IN THE YOUNG IS VALUABLE NOT ONLY FOR ITS OWN SAKE, BUT ALSO FOR THE FUTURE WELL-BEING OF HONG KONG.
+1 AM CONVINCED THAT THE MEASURES IN THIS WHITE PAPER PROVIDE FOR THIS, HE SAID.
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