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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1985
MR HENDERSON SAID THE EDUCATION COMMISSION HAD A CONTINUING TASK TO PERFORM AND WOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF ALL DEVELOPMENTS, POLITICAL AND OTHERWISE, AS IT FORMULATED ITS PROPOSALS.
HE ADDED THAT THE COMMISSION WAS ALREADY ADDRESSING A NUMBER OF MAJOR QUESTIONS ABOUT WHICH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAD SPOKEN IN THE DEBATE. SUCH AS THE FUTURE OF SIXTH-FORM EDUCATION AND THE ATTENDANT PROBLEMS OF SYLLABUS CONTENT AND THE BURDEN OF EXAMINATIONS, POLICY TOWARDS KINDERGARTENS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF OPEN EDUCATION.
ON CIVIC EDUCATION, MR HENDERSON SAID THE GUIDELINES ON CIVIC EDUCATION, WHICH WERE CIRCULATED TO SCHOOLS IN AUGUST, ADOPTED THE CURRICULUM-WIDE APPROACH WHICH SOUGHT TO RELATE THE CONCEPTS OF CIVIC EDUCATION MORE GENERALLY TO THE TEACHING PROGRAMME AND TO SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AS A WHOLE.
+MY OWN FEELING IS THAT THE GUIDELINES PROVIDE A GOOD STARTING POINT AND THAT, SINCE PROGRESS HAS SO FAR BEEN ENCOURAGING, THE APPROACH THEY OUTLINE SHOULD BE GIVEN A FAIR CHANCE, HE SAID.
REGARDING THE CONCERN THAT THE EDUCATION REGULATIONS INHIBITED THE TEACHING OF CIVIC EDUCATION, MR HENDERSON SAID REGULATION 98 FORBIDS ANY EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY WHICH IS IN ANY WAY OF A POLITICAL OR PARTLY POLITICAL NATURE AND PREJUDICIAL TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST OR THE WELFARE OF THE PUPILS OR OF EDUCATION GENERALLY OR CONTRARY TO THE APPROVED SYLLABUS. +
+THE AND HERE IS IMPORTANT AS IT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST INDOCTRINATION. I SEE NOTHING IN IT WHICH NEED HAMPER CIVIC INSTRUCTION OR EDUCATION AS VERY BROADLY DEFINED IN THE GUIDELINES, HE SAID.
ON THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON PRIVAT INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS. MR HENDERSON SAID THE STATED POLICY WAS TO REDUCE INDEPENDENCE UPON THE BUYING OF PLACES IN LESS SATISFACTORY SCHOOLS.
+THIS, I SHOULD LIKE TO STRESS, DOES NOT IMPLY A COMMITMENT TO THE PHASING OUR OF ALL BOUGHT PLACES NOR DOES IT IMPLY THAT THERE IS A FIXED LIST OF UNSATISFACTORY SCHOOLS, HE SAID.
+A WORKING PARTY, ESTABLISHED BY THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS ASSOCIATIONS ADVISORY BOARD, HAS BEEN LOOKING INTO WAYS AND MEANS OF ASSISTING IN THIS PURPOSE. THE RESULTS OF ITS WORK WILL BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY AND WILL, I HOPE, POINT A WAY FORWARD, HE ADDED.
WITH RESPECT TO LANGUAGE IN EDUCATION, MR HENDERSON SAID THE EDUCATION COMMISSION DEALT AT SOME LENGTH IN ITS REPORT NO. 1 WITH THE TEACHING OF LANGUAGE AND THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION.
/HE SAID