WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1986
2-2-1 COLLEGE SYSTEM SATISFACTORY'
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THE GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED THAT THE 2-2-1 SYSTEM CURRENTLY OPERATING AT ONE POST-SECONDARY COLLEGE IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE OBJECTIVES ENVISAGED IN THE 1978 WHITE PAPER ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SENIOR SEDONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON MIKE PAGLIARI, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LEE YU-TAI, MR PAGLIARI SAID AT PRESENT ONLY ONE OF THE TWO REGISTERED POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES WAS OPERATING UNDER A 2-2-1 SYSTEM, THE OTHER HAD ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO OFFER A FOUR-YEAR DIPLOMA COURSE.
THE 2-2-1 SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED TO EXTEND THE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORM 5 LEAVERS WISHING TO TAKE A TWO-YEAR COURSE AT THE SIXTH FORM LEVEL AND TO CONTINUE THEREAFTER FOR TWO FURTHER YEARS ON A COURSE WHICH WILL EQUIP THEM WITH A PROFESSIONAL OR OTHER VOCATIONAL QUAL IF ICATION.
THE EXTRA YEAR FOLLOWING THE TWO TWO-YEAR POST FORM-5 COURSES IS OPTIONAL AND RECEIVES NO FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
IN THE CURRENT ACADEMIC YEAR THE COLLEGE INVOLVED IS PROVIDING SOME 420 AND 680 PLACES AT THE SIXTH FORM AND THE HIGHER DIPLOMA LEVELS.
THIS MADE A SMALL BUT NONETHELESS IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE GOVERNMENT'S TARGETS FOR SIXTH FORM AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, MR PAGLIARI SAID.
THE PERFORMANCE OF THE STUDENTS AT BOTH THESE LEVELS WAS SATISFACTORY, HE SAID.
THIS WAS EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT 81 PER CENT OF ITS SIXTH FORM STUDENTS OBTAINED PASSES IN TWO OR MORE SUBJECTS IN THE A-LEVEL EXAMINATION IN 1985 AND THAT 95 PER CENT OF ITS HIGHER DIPLOMA GRADUATES EITHER OBTAINED EMPLOYMENT OR PROCEEDED ON FURTHER STUDIES WITHIN FOUR MONTHS AFTER GRADUATION ACCORDING TO SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY THE COLLEGE IN 1983 AND 1984, HE NOTED.
MR PAGLIARI SAID THESE FACTS INDICATED THAT THE SYSTEM WAS WORKING AS ENVISAGED AND THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO KEEP THE SITUATION UNDER REVIEW, PARTICULARLY REGARDING THE COLLEGE'S ABILITY TO MEET THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS FOR COURSES TO SUPPLEMENT WHAT THE PUBLIC SECTOR WAS PROVIDING AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO ENABLE THE COLLEGE TO DO SO.