FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1987
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"MR SWAINE WAS FIRMLY OF THE VIEW THAT TO DEVELOP THE SUBJECT PROPERLY WOULD REQUIRE A SPECIAL TEACHING CENTRE AND THAT SUCH A CENTRE COULD USEFULLY BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE SAME BUILDING AS A PRACTICAL EDUCATION CENTRE, ME KNIGHT SAID, ADDING THAT HE FULLY AGREED WITH THAT VIEW.
SINCE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY WAS INCLUDED AS A SUBJECT IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL CURRICULUM, MR KNIGHT SAID THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS OFFERING THE SUBJECT HAD INCREASED FROM 42 IN 1974 TO SOME 200 THIS YEAR.
"THIS RAPID DEVELOPMENT WAS MADE POSSIBLE ONLY THROUGH AN EXPANDED TECHNICAL TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMME UNDERTAKEN BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, MR KNIGHT SAID.
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"TEACHERS OF TECHNICAL SUBJECTS REQUIRE A FACILITY SUCH THIS CENTRE WHERE THEY CAN NOT ONLY RECEIVE SPECIALISED IN-SERVICE TRAINING BUT ALSO EXCHANGE IDEAS, FORMULATE NEW TEACHING METHODS, INCREASE THEIR WORKSHOP KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS AND DESIGN AND PRODUCE TEACHING AIDS," HE ADDED.
"PUTTING THE TWO CENTRES TOGETHER, ONE FOR SERVING OUR STUDENTS AND THE OTHER THEIR TEACHERS, IS A MOST APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENT AND I WISH THEM BOTH EVERY SUCCESS IN MEETING THEIR VITALLY IMPORTANT OBJECTIVES, MR KNIGHT SAID.
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IN HIS ADDRESS OF WELCOME, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR Y.T. LI, SAID THE $4.7 MILLION CENTRES SET UP BY THE DEPARTMENT WAS PART OF ITS EFFORT TO PROMOTE THE TEACHING OF PRACTICAL AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
THE PRACTICAL EDUCATION CENTRE CATERS FOR STUDENTS OF SCHOOLS IN EAST KOWLOON INCLUDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHICH ARE SHORT OF ACCOMMODATION, FACILITIES OR TRAINED TEACHERS FOR THE TEACHING OF PRACTICAL AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS.
THE CENTRE 19 MANNED BY QUALIFIED TEACHERS OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. FREE INSTRUCTION IS GIVEN TO STUDENTS WHO ATTEND AN 80-MINUTE SESSION ONCE A WEEK AT THE CENTRE FOR BACH SUBJECT THEY TAKE. THESE INCLUDE WOODWORK, METALWORK, PLASTICS, HOME MANAGEMENT, NEEDLEWORK, PAINTING, POTTERY AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL WORKS UNDER THE THREE SCHOOL SUBJECTS OF DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY, HOME ECONOMICS, AND ART AND DESIGN.
THE CENTRE IS NOW SERVING ABOUT 5,400 SECONDARY 1 AND 2 STUDENTS FROM 11 SCHOOLS IN THE EAST KOWLOON REGION. IT CAN HANDLE
UP TO 9,600 STUDENTS WHEN THE CENTRE EXTENDS COURSES FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS IN THE 1988-89 SCHOOL YEAR.
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