MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1981
EDUCATION REVIEW PANEL OUTLINES INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
****
MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL PANEL OF VISITORS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT AN OVERALL REVIEW OF HONG KONG'S EDUCATION SYSTEM ARRIVED IN HONG KONG OVER THE WEEKEND FOR THE IR FIRST JOINT MEETING.
THEY ARE SIR JOHN LLEWELLYN (FORMER VICE-CHANCELLOR OF EXETER UNIVERSITY AND DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE BRITISH COUNCIL), DR GREG HANCOCK (CHIEF EDUCATION OFFICER, AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY SCHOOLS AUTHORITY), DR KARL ROELOFFS (SECRETARY-GENERAL, FEDERAL GERMAN ACADEMIC EXCHANGE SERVICE) AND PROFESSOR MICHAEL W. KIRST (PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, STANFORD UNIVERSITY). THE PANEL IS ASSISTED BY TWO SPECIAL ADVISERS, MR Q.W. LEE AND MR JAMES MCHUGH.
INTRODUCING THE VISITORS TO THE PRESS TODAY, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION, MR KENNETH TOPLEY, SAID THAT A WIDE DIVERSITY OF PERSONS AND GROUPS HAD RESPONDED TO THE PRESS ADVERTISEMENTS INVITING WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS ON ASPECTS OF HONG KONG EDUCATION: THESE INCLUDED INDIVIDUAL PARENTS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS' ASSOCIATIONS, INTEREST GROUPS, AND STAFF OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS. IN ADDITION SOME 30 OR SO PERSONS OR GROUPS HAD ASKED TO MEET MEMBERS OF THE PANEL.
MR TOPLEY SAID THAT THE VISITORS WOULD HAVE A VERY BUSY TIME DURING THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. IN ADDITION TO THE REQUEST MEETINGS THEY WOULD VISIT SCHOOLS OF VARIOUS TYPES, THE TWO UNIVERSITIES, THE POLYTECHNIC, TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, A COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND A POST-SECONDARY COLLEGE.
THEY WOULD DISCUSS EDUCATIONAL POLICY IN THE CONTEXT OF GENERAL GOVERNMENT POLICY WITH SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICERS AND MEET REPRESENTATIVES OF EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATIONS AS WELL AS THE PRINCIPAL ADVISORY BODIES IN EDUCATION.
SIR JOHN LLEWELLYN SAID THAT THE PANEL HAD BEEN STUDYING THE POLICY DOCUMENTS CONCERNING EDUCATION, TOGETHER WITH THE GENERAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION MADE AVAILABLE BY THE GOVERNMENT. THEY HAD PAID PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS FORWARDED TO THEM AND WERE STRUCK BY THE IMMENSE VARIETY OF POINTS OF VIEW EMBODIED IN THEM. A GOOD DEAL OF THE DISCUSSION OF THE NEXT TWO WEEKS WOULD CENTRE ON THE STATEMENTS AND OPINIONS MADE IN THE REPRESENTATIONS. HE THOUGHT THAT THE OPENNESS OF THE REVIEW, GIVING THE PANEL ACCESS TO ALL SHADES OF OPINION ON EDUCATION, WAS ONE OF ITS MOST VALUABLE FEATURES.
SIR JOHN EXPLAINED THAT AT THE PRESENT STAGE THEIR VIEWS HAD BEEN INFORMED BY CONSIDERABLE BACKGROUND READING, THE STUDY OF WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS, AND PREVIOUS VISITS TO HONG KONG. THE IR IMPRESSIONS WOULD BE CONSIDERABLY INFLUENCED IN THE LIGHT OF DISCUSSIONS AND OBSERVATIONS OVER THE NEXT FORTNIGHT. HE SAID THE PANEL HAD NOTED MANY ISSUES WHICH SEEMED TO BE OF INTEREST TO ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY, LAY AND PROFESSIONAL, OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL. THREE MATTERS WHICH RECEIVED PROMINENCE IN THE MATERJAL WHICH THE PANEL HAD CONSIDERED TO DATE WERE:
THE EXTENT