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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1985
SIR DAVID LOOKS AT SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITED AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT CENTRE TO LOOK AT THE RANGE OF SPECIAL SERVICES PROVIDED TO CHILDREN WITH LEARNING PROBLEMS.
DURING THE TWO-HOUR VISIT TO THE PERTH STREET SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTRE, HE SAW HOW CHILDREN WITH VISUAL, HEARING, SPEECH AND OTHER LEARNING PROBLEMS WERE ASSESSED AND TREATED.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, HE INSPECTED THE VARIOUS SERVICES AVAILABLE, WHICH INCLUDED REFERRAL AND PLACEMENT, SPEECH THERAPY, PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT, COUNSELLING FOR CHILDREN AND THE IR PARENTS AND ASSESSMENT FOR THOSE AUDIOLOGICALLY IMPAIRED.
SIR DAVID ALSO SAW A RESOURCE TEACHING CLASS IN SESSION AND VISITED THE EAR-MOULD LABORATORY, AN EXHIBITION OF RESOURCE MATERIALS FOR TEACHING MODERATELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, A CURRICULUM WORKSHOP AND THE BRAILLE PRINTING ROOM.
HE EXPRESSED A KEEN INTEREST IN THE SERVICES PROVIDED AND ENDED THE VISIT AFTER A GENERAL DISCUSSION WITH STAFF.
THE PERTH STREET SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTRE IS ONE OF SOUTHEAST ASIA'S MOST COMPREHENSIVE INSTITUTIONS AND OFFERS TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT COURSES TO TEACHERS OF SPECIAL EDUCATION.
REGIONAL COUNCIL BUDGET ENDORSED
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THE DRAFT REGIONAL COUNCIL BUDGET FOR 1986-87 WITH REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE ESTIMATED AT $1 003 MILLION AND $859 MILLION RESPECTIVELY WAS ENDORSED BY THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).
IN EXPLAINING THE BUDGET, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL, MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, SAID THE TWO MAIN SOURCES OF REVENUE WERE THE INCOME FROM RATES AND A GOVERNMENT GRANT WHILE THE EXPENDITURE EXCLUDED CAPITAL WORKS PROJECTS.
THE COUNCIL ALSO ENDORSED TWO PROSPOSALS FOR LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS TO FACILITATE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FINANCIALLY AUTONOMOUS REGIONAL COUNCIL AND THE EXERCISE OF ITS AUTHORITY WHEN IT COMES INTO BEING ON APRIL 1, 1986.
THE ASSISTANT