TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1985
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+ALL THAT AN ELECTOR NEEDS TO DO IS TO FILL IN A STANDARD REPLY FORM AND RETURN IT TO THE REGISTRATION OFFICER BY POST. AN ADDRESS SLIP IS PROVIDED WHICH WILL ALLOW THE REPLY FORM TO BE SENT POSTAGE FREE,+ HE EXPLAINED.
MR LEE ALSO APPEALED TO ELECTORS WHO HAVE NOT YET REPORTED CHANGES OF RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS TO DO SO BY LETTER WITHOUT DELAY, LEST THEY MIGHT FIND THEMSELVES INELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE CONSTITUENCY OF THEIR NEW RESIDENCE IN THE MARCH 1986 URBAN COUNCIL AND REGIONAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS. TO THEIR INCONVENIENCE, THEY WOULD REMAIN TO BE ENTITLED TO VOTE ONLY IN THE CONSTITUENCY OF THEIR FORMER RESIDENCE.
PUTONGHUA TO BE OFFERED IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS
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PUTONGHUA WILL BE INTRODUCED AS AN OPTIONAL SUBJECT IN THE PRIMARY CURRICULUM FROM SEPTEMBER 1986, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
THE DECISION WAS THE RESULT OF THE ENCOURAGING FINDINGS OF THE EVALUATION STUDY INTO THE FIRST STAGE OF A PILOT SCHEME ON THE TEACHING OF PUTONGHUA IN SCHOOLS, HE SAID.
THE PILOT SCHEME WAS STARTED IN SEPTEMBER 1981 AND THE FIRST STAGE INVOLVING 42 PRIMARY SCHOOLS WAS COMPLETED IN JULY LAST YEAR.
THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT IT WAS FEASIBLE TO INCLUDE PUTONGHUA IN THE PRIMARY CURRICULUM AS A SEPARATE OPTIONAL SUBJECT.
IN THIS CONNECTION, THE DEPARTMENT IS NOW INVITING INTERESTED PRIMARY SCHOOLS TO JOIN THE EXTENDED SCHEME THIS SEPTEMBER IN PREPARATION FOR PUTONGHUA TO BE INTRODUCED AS AN OPTIONAL SUBJECT. NEXT YEAR.
AS A RESULT OF THE GROWING INTEREST OF SCHOOLS IN PROMOTING PUTONGHUA AS AN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITY, THE CHINESE SECTION OF THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS COMPILED A PAMPHLET, +GUIDELINES ON PUTONGHUA EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES+.
THIS PAMPHLET HAS NOW BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO ALL SCHOOLS WHILE PRIMARY SCHOOLS HAVE ADDITIONALLY BEEN PROVIDED WITH COPIES OF THE + INTRODUCTORY NOTES TO THE TEACHING OF PUTONGHUA IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS+ AND THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE PUTONGHUA PROVISIONAL SYLLABUS+.
TO ASSIST SCHOOLS INTENDING TO OFFER PUTONGHUA IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS ORGANISING A SEMINAR FOR THE END OF JUNE TO FAMILIARISE SCHOOL HEADS WITH MATTERS RELATING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUBJECT.
FOR OTHERS INTENDING TO OFFER PUTONGHUA AS AN OPTIONAL SUBJECT IN SEPTEMBER 1986, A SEMINAR WILL BE HELD NEXT APRIL.
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