THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1984
13.
MORE TRAINING PLACES FOR THE DISABLED
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VOCATIONAL TRAINING FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED WOULD BE GREATLY INCREASED WITH THE COMPLETION OF FOUR BUILDING AND EXPANSION PROJECTS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THE COMMISSIONER FOR REHABILITATION, MR MARTIN LEWIS, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT A CERTIFICATE PRESENTATION CEREMONY FOR DISABLED TRAINEES, MR LEWIS SAID THAT PLANS WERE IN HAND TO EXPAND THE CAPACITY OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR THE DISABLED FROM TODAY'S 600 PLACES TO 1 270 PLACES BY 1989 IN BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED SECTORS.
THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT (TEITD) WILL BE BUILDING A NEW VOCATIONAL TRAINING SKILLS CENTRE AT TUEN MUN AS WELL AS REPROVISIONING THE ABERDEEN SKILLS CENTRE FOR THE DISABLED. EACH CENTRE WILL BE DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE 300 TRAINEES.
+ANOTHER PROJECT WILL BE THE SETTING UP OF A VOCATIONAL TRAINING SECTION WITH FACILITIES TO TRAIN 72 DISABLED PERSONS WITHIN A REHABILITATION CENTRE IN WESTERN KOWLOON, WHICH IS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN TE ITD AND THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
+ IN THE SUBVENTED AREA, THE EXPANSION OF THE PINEHILL VILLAGE ADVANCED TRAINING CENTRE WILL PROVIDE 160 TRAINING PLACES AS WELL, + HE ADDED.
THE TEITD AT PRESENT OPERATES TWO SKILLS CENTRE FOR THE DISABLED AT KWUN TONG AND ABERDEEN WITH A COMBINED CAPACITY OF ABOUT 380 PLACES. THERE ARE ALSO FOUR SUBVENTED VOLUNTARY AGENCIES OFFERING A TOTAL OF 230 TRAINING PLACES.
AT THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY, 26 FULL-TIME AND SIX PART-TIME TRAINEES FROM THE KWUN TONG AND ABERDEEN CENTRES WERE AWARDED CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCE AFTER COMPLETION OF THE IR TRAINING.
MR LEWIS SAID THERE WAS ALSO IMPROVEMENT IN EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS AND IN THE INTEGRATION OF THE DISABLED INTO THE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL WORKFORCE.
MANY DISABLED WORKERS, CRAFTSMEN AND TECHNICIANS WERE PERFORMING DUTIES IN INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL SECTORS AT THE SAME LEVELS AND STANDARDS AS THOSE FOR THE ABLE-BODIED PERSONNEL, HE ADDED.
HOWEVER, MR LEWIS CALLED UPON EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE STILL MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR WELL-TRAINED DISABLED GRADUATES WHO FORM PART OF THE VALUABLE MANPOWER RESOURCE FOR THE ECONOMY.
THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF TEIT, MR HORACE KNIGHT, SAID ONE OF THE MAIN AIMS OF THE DEPARTMENT WAS THE INTEGRATION OF THE DISABLED INTO THE WORKFORCE.
HE SAID TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE, THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDED A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF TRAINING FOR THE DISABLED FROM SEMI- SKILLED TO TECHNICIAN LEVELS IN ITS SKILLS CENTRES AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.
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