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Improvement package for special education endorsed
The Board of Education (BOE) today (Monday) endorsed a package of comprehensive measures proposed by the board's sub-committee to improve special education in the territory.
The recommendations, if fully implemented, carry a price-tag of over $108 million in the first year.
Public consultations are now under way. Members of the public may obtain copies of the sub-committee's report from the Education Department's Special Education Services Section, 10th floor, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. Views and representations on the suggestions should reach the Secretary, Board of Education, at Room 1123 on the 11th floor of the same building not later than July 8.
Meanwhile, two public consultation sessions will be conducted on June 12 at Grantham campus, Kowloon, and June 13 at Hong Kong Teachers' Centre, Pak Fuk Road, respectively to gauge public views on these proposals. Both sessions will be held between 6 pm and 8 pm.
Presenting the sub-committee's report at today's BoE meeting, Chairman of Sub-committee on Special Education, Professor Leslie Lo Nai-kwai, said the sub- committee has made 70 improvement recommendations, covering 10 areas in special education:
Administration and co-ordination of special education
Educational concerns in special education
Provision in the Code of Aid for Special Schools
The curriculum and related matters
Teacher education
Education for children with learning difficulties
Education of the gifted
Education for the maladjusted
Practical schools and skills opportunity schools and
Other measures for further improvement
Professor Lo said the financial implication of the recommended improvement measures will be $108.3 million in the 1997-98 fiscal year (seven months). It will increase to $203 million by 2000-01.