WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1985
+THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT, AS HAS BEEN SUGGESTED, IND IFFERENT TO THE QUESTION OF THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, NOR IS IT RELUCTANT TO PROVIDE DIRECTION FOR THE FUTURE,+ HE SAID.
ON SUGGESTIONS ABOUT THE TEACHING OF PUTONGHUA IN SCHOOLS, HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ENCOURAGE THIS, BUT, IN LINE WITH TRADITIONAL POLICY OF CURRICULUM FREEDOM, WOULD LEAVE THE DECISION TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS.
+FURTHER STUDY IS NOW BEING UNDERTAKEN ON THE TEACHING OF PUTONGHUA AS AN INDEPENDENT AND OPTIONAL SUBJECT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS,+ MR HENDERSON SAID.
CONCERNING THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION THAT IT WAS INADVISABLE TO SET UP AN OPEN UNIVERSITY IN HONG KONG MODELLED ON THE UK OPEN UNIVERSITY, HE ASSURED MEMBERS THAT GOVERNMENT ACCEPTANCE OF THIS FINDING SHOULD NOT BE INTERPRETED AS REJECTION OF THE IDEA OF OPEN EDUCATION.
+THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS OPEN EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS TO BE AN IMPORTANT FACET OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, AND EVIDENCE OF THIS MUST SURELY BE THE VARIETY OF OPEN EDUCATION COURSES PROVIDED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNICS. THE TRAINING CENTRES AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND BY A LARGE NUMBER OF SUBSIDISED BODIES,+ HE SAID.
THE COMMISSION WAS CURRENTLY EMBARKING ON A VERY RIGOROUS ANALYSIS OF THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR OPEN EDUCATION WITH A VIEW TO FORMULATING DEFINITIVE VIEW ON HOW THE DEMAND SHOULD BEST BE MET, HE SAID.
SPEAKING OF CIVIC EDUCATION, HE SAID THIS MATTER WAS TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE EDUCATION COMMISSION, WHICH HAD INDICATED ITS INTENTION TO PURSUE THE MATTER IN THE SECOND PHASE OF ITS DELIBERATIONS.
POINTING OUT THAT THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS' SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMISSION FOR CONSIDERATION, MR HENDERSON SAID THAT NO ONE WAS MORE CONSCIOUS THAT MORE REMAINED TO BE DONE, BUT THE FIRST TASK HAD TO BE DISCHARGED.
+THE 'GREAT EDUCATIONAL DEBATE' CANNOT REMAIN A DEBATE INDEFINITELY. AT SOME STAGE PRACTICAL PLANNING MEASURES MUST BE DECIDED ON WITHIN THE DESIRABLE DIRECTIONS' THAT HAVE BEEN SIGN-POSTED, HE SAID.
EMPHASISING THAT THE COMMISSION WAS A STANDING COMMISSION, HE SAID THAT IT WAS VERY CONSCIOUS OF ITS CONTINUING ROLE AND THE VAST AMOUNT OF WORK THAT REMAINED TO BE DONE IN FURTHER REFINING ITS OWN RECOMMENDATIONS, IF ACCEPTED, AND TACKLING A LARGE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS NOT COVERED IN THE FIRST REPORT, MR HENDERSON SAID.
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