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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1985
PRACTICABLE AND CONGRUENT, K.F. HO SAYS
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RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT NO. 1 ARE PRACTICABLE AND CONGRUENT WITH THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC REALITIES OF HONG KONG, DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI SAID TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
DR HO EXPRESSED HIS VIEWS ON TWO ASPECTS OF THE REPORT: OPEN EDUCATION AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
HE SAID HE ACCEPTED THE ARGUMENTS PUT FORWARD BY THE UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE AND THE EDUCATION COMMISSION AGAINST AN OPEN UNIVERSITY MODELLED ON THE UK OPEN UNIVERSITY.
HE AGREED WITH THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION TO DEVELOP OPEN EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS TO PROVIDE SECOND-CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE BEYOND SCHOOL AGE TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION.
HE SUGGESTED THAT THE STANDARD OF OPEN EDUCATION COURSES SHOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO THAT OF COMPARABLE FULL-TIME COURSES IN ORDER TO MATCH EXPECTATIONS OF EMPLOYERS.
+AS OPEN EDUCATION STUDENTS ARE LIKELY TO HAVE FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT AND FAMILY COMMITMENTS, THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO PROGRESS AT THEIR OWN PACE, DR HO SAID.
+THERE SHOULD ALSO BE A WIDE RANGE OF COURSES TO CATER FOR THE INTERESTS OF STUDENTS, HE ADDED.
DR HO SAID THAT, IN ORDER TO KEEP THE COURSES COST-EFFECTIVE, THE DROP-OUT RATE SHOULD BE LOWERED TO A MINIMUM.
HE FELT THAT FOR PLANNING AND COLLABORATION PURPOSES, THERE SHOULD BE A CO-ORDINATING BODY TO BRING TOGETHER INSTITUTIONS ORGANISING OPEN EDUCATION PROGRAMMES AT PRESENT.
ON TECHNICAL EDUCATION, DR HO SAID HE WAS GLAD THE COMMISSION HAD ACCORDED A HIGH PRIORITY TO THE PROVISION OF SUBSIDISED POST-FORM 3 PLACES IN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND TRAINING CENTRES.
HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE THE LINK BETWEEN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND THE TWO POLYTECHNICS SO AS TO MAKE TECHNICAL EDUCATION MORE ATTRACTIVE TO FORM 3 LEAVERS AND THE IR PARENTS.
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