14
THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1991
DISADVANTAGES TO CHINESE
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS CAN BE REMOVED
THE GOVERNMENT MUST NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE AIM OF CONVINCING PARENTS THAT TO CHOOSE A CHINESE MEDIUM SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN WOULD NOT HANDICAP THEM IN TERMS OF THEIR CHILDREN'S ACCESS ΤΟ TERTIARY EDUCATION, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR K.Y. YEUNG SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CHINESE TEXTBOOKS EXHIBITION, MR YEUNG SAID THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL AT STAKE IN ACHIEVING THIS AIM, AND EVERYONE IN THE EDUCATIONAL COMMUN [TY
INCLUDING SCHOOLS AND THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS
HAD A SHARE OF RESPONSIBILITY IN ACHIEVING IT.
-
THE
HE POINTED OUT THAT PARENTAL RESISTANCE TO A CHINESE MEDIUM EDUCATION WOULD REMAIN STRONG UNLESS PARENTS COULD BE CONVINCED THAT SUCH A CHOICE WOULD NOT PLACE THE SECONDARY 6 AND 7 STUDENTS OF CHINESE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AT A DISADVANTAGE IN TERMS OF THEIR ACCESS TO TERTIARY EDUCATION, AND THEREFORE TO BETTER PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT.
THERE ARE SEVERAL STEPS THE GOVERNMENT CAN TAKE TO CONVINCE PARENTS THAT THESE DISADVANTAGES CAN BE OR ARE BEING REMOVED, MR YEUNG . SAID.
"IN THE FIRST PLACE, THE ADDITIONAL TEACHERS AND RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE BEEN INVESTING IN THE CHINESE MIDDLE SCHOOLS SINCE 1988 SHOULD, BY 1992-93, ENABLE THEM AND THEIR STUDENTS TO SWITCH ΤΟ THE MORE DIFFICULT SYLLABUS BAT SECONDARY 5.
"THUS, BY SEPTEMBER 1993, THE STUDENTS OF CHINESE MIDDLE SCHOOL ENTERING THEIR SIXTH FORM COURSES SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THE FULL USE OF ENGLISH PAPER ON THE SAME FOOTING AS THOSE OF ENGLISH MEDIUM SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
"SECONDLY, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND DISCUSSING WITH HEADS OF THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS REQUIREMENTS FÖR ENTRY TO VARIOUS FIRST DEGREE COURSES.
HAVE BEEN THEIR FUTURE
"THESE VARY FROM INSTITUTION TO INSTITUTION, FROM FACULTY
ΤΟ
FACULTY AND INDEED FROM COURSE TO COURSE.
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"I AM SEEKING TO HAVE THE POSITION CLARIFIED, BECAUSE PARENTS CANNOT CHOOSE IF THEY REMAIN CONFUSED OR UNCERTAIN AND I HOPE TO BR ABLE TO OBTAIN A CLEAR AND CONSISTENT STATEMENT OF LANGUAGE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR, HE SAID.
CONSIDERING
MR YEUNG AND THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION ARE ALSO WAYS AND MEANS BY WHICH THE SECONDARY 6 AND 7 STUDENTS OF CHINESE MIDDLE SCHOOLS CAN BE HELPED TO OVERCOME THEIR DISADVANTAGES.
"THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS OF PROVIDING HELP TO THESE STUDENTS, MR YEUNG SAID.
/"FOR EXAMPLE