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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1983
TEACHING QUALITY MUST IMPROVE
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T.S. LO
HONG KONG MUST IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF TEACHING IN SCHOOLS, THE HON T.S. LO TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE WAS SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION ON THE REPORT ENTITLED +A PERSPECTIVE ON EDUCATION IN HONG KONG+.
MR LO POINTED OUT THAT HIS PROPOSAL FOR INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TEACHING SERVICE WAS BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS MADE IN THE REPORT AND WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS-
*
AN IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE ENTERING THE TEACHING PROFESSION, BY MEANS OF HIGHER ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION, AND SIMULTANEOUS UPGRADING OF THE COURSES PROVIDED BY THE COLLEGES TO THE STATUS OF A BACHELOR OF EDUCATION (B. ED.) DEGREE CONFERRED BY THE UNIVERSITIES.
A CONTINUING PROGRAMME OF MODULAR IN-SERVICE EDUCATION AND TRAINING INSET) COURSES FOR PRACTISING TEACHERS
SUPPORTED BY CAREER AND SALARY INCENTIVES, WHICH EVENTUALLY LEAD TO THE AWARD OF A B. ED. DEGREE.
* A REQUIRED DISCLOSURE OF STAFF STANDARDS BY SCHOOLS IN THE
PRIVATE SECTOR LEADING ULTIMATELY TO A SCHEME OF ACCREDITATION.
REFERRING TO THE FIRST PART OF HIS PROPOSAL, HE UNDERLINED THE NEED FOR A MUCH HIGHER QUALITY IN PRE-SERVICE TEACHER PREPARATION AND SAID IT WAS DESIRABLE THAT THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION SHOULD RAISE THEIR ENTRY REQUIREMENTS TO A SPECIFIED NUMBER OF PASSES AT ADVANCED LEVEL (TAKEN AFTER TWO YEARS IN THE SIXTH FORM).
+THERE IS SOME INDICATION, INDEED, THAT A GROWING NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS TO THE COLLEGES DO ALREADY HAVE AN ADVANCED LEVEL QUALIFICATION.
+THE OBJECT OF THIS MOVE IS TO INCREASE THE ACADEMIC QUALITY OF THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO WILL BE TEACHERS OF FUTURE GENERATIONS OF SCHOOL CHILDREN FOR THIRTY TO FORTY YEARS OF THE IR PROFESSIONAL LIVES,+ MR LO SAID.
THE REPORT CRITICIZES THE FACULTY OF THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION AS BEING DRAWN FROM TOO NARROW A CATCHMENT AREA (TEACHERS IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS ONLY), AND AS HAVING TOO FEW SALARY AND STATUS INCENTIVES TO UPGRADE THEIR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, HE SAID.
+ONE WAY OF IMPROVING THIS SITUATION IS TO INSTITUTE A COURSE LEADING TO A B. ED. DEGREE BASED IN THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION BUT EXTERNAL! Y VALIDATED BY THE UNIVERSITIES, HE SAID.
/THE SECOND
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