THURSDAY, STOMR 27, 1983
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FLEXIBLE EDUCATION SYSTEM URGED
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HONG KONG'S EDUCATION SYSTEM MUST BE SUFFICIENTLY FLEXIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY WHICH CHARGE OVER TIME, THE HON RITA FAN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE SYSTEM MUST BE ADEQUATELY PRAGMATIC TO HOTRIKE A REMTOPIC BALANCE BETWEEN SOCIAL DEMANDS AND ECONOMIC
NEEDS, MRS FAN SAID.
BAR MEN BEFERRING TO THE LLEWELLYN REPORT, SHE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT'S
CONCERN IS TO DETERMINE WHICH AREA(S) SHOULD BE GIVEN PRIORITY, AT KALOM V TO THAT EXTENT THE SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED, AND HOW TO TAP THE NECESSARY RESOURCES.+
+THIS IS A TALL ORDER, AND ONE CAN EASILY BE SO INVOLVED IN
ONE AREA AND LOSE SIGHT OF OTHER NEEDS.
+TO AVOID THIS, IT IS HELPFUL TO REMIND OURSELVES OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACHIEVE THROUGH THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, SO THAT WE CAN ALWAYS REFER TO IT TO ENSURE THAT THE WAYS AND MEANS WE DEVELOPED ARE ACHIEVING THE AIM, RATHER THAN BECOMING +ENDS+ IN THEMSELVES.
+A SIMPLE VERSION OF THE AIM OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS TO DEVELOP USEFUL, CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, + SHE ADDED.
FOR AN INDIVIDUAL TO BECOME SUCH A MEMBER, SHE LISTED THE FOLLOWING PREREQUISITES,
* FIRST, THE PERSON MUST HAVE A SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE
COMMUNITY. IN OTHER WORDS THERE SHOULD EXIST A MUTUAL BOND OF CARE AND CONCERN BETWEEN THAT PERSON AND THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM.
* SECOND, TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE IMPROVEMENT AND PROGRESS OF
SOCIETY, HE MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO ADAPT TO CHANGE (WHICH IS SOMETIMES OUTSIDE HIS OWN CONTROL), TO MAKE THE BEST OF SITUATIONS AS THEY ARISE, AND TO USE HIS ANALYTICAL POWER AND ORGANISING SKILLS TO ARRIVE AT INNOVATIVE IDEAS WHICH CAN BE REALISTICALLY IMPLEMENTED.
* THIRD, THE PERSON MUST ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS.
IF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE TO HAVE THE FIRST TWO PREREQUISITES, PRS FAN SAID, WE HAVE TO DEPEND ON INTERACTION AMONG OUR TEACHERS, PARENTS AND STUDENTS,
*WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR US TO EMBARK ON THE TASK OF INCREASING THE NUMBER AND UPGRADING THE QUALITY OF TEACHERS, I WOULD PLEAD FOR EMPHASIS TO BE PLACED ON STIMULATING TEACHERS TO RE-CONSIDER THEIR PROFESSIONAL ROLE IN INFLUENCING STUDENTS' BEHAV LOUR AND VALUES, AND TO CLARIFY THE IR OWN ATTITUDES,
/+I SINCERELY