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Demand and supply of special school places
Following is a question by the Hon Tik Chi-yuen and a written reply by the acting Secretary for Education and Manpower, Miss Jacqueline Willis, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Will the Government inform this Council of:
(a)
(b)
(c)
the demand and supply in respect of special school places in various districts for the next academic year;
the number of classes and the size of different types of classes in special schools, including the classes for the severely mentally handicapped, the moderately mentally handicapped, the mildly mentally handicapped and the physically handicapped, as well as the skills opportunity classes, the classes for the deaf, the blind, the maladjusted and the multi- handicapped, in each of the past ten years; and
the turnover rates of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists in special schools in the past three years?
Reply:
Mr President,
Special school places are provided for pupils who have more complex special educational needs and/or who cannot benefit from education in ordinary schools because of the severity of their disability.
(a)
The estimated demand and supply of special school places by category and by district for 1995/96 school year is set out at Annex A. Special school places are provided on a territory-wide basis although in practice special schools have been built as far as practicable in areas with demonstrated demand.
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