XN000022-1972-11-02 — Page 13

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Thursday, November 2, 1972

HONG KONG NEEDS A NEW PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

Mrs. Symons is very enthusiastic and sanguine at the prospect of

the development of educational facilities outlined by the Governor.

In the policy outlined on the development of three years post-

primary education for all, she said, she sees a most exciting challenge which

few countries or communities are called upon to attempt.

Mrs. Symons said: "One suspects that there has never been much

philosophical thinking in the past whenever education was provided."

Church schools and a handful of pre-war Government schools did in

fact provide a good all-round education of a sort, but there was no necessity

in those halcyon days to speak of the philosophy of education.

Today, she said, we cannot afford to build, staff and run a school

without really thinking about the children as children, and not as examinees.

She said each year thousands of Certificate holders enrol in

matriculation courses as there are so few training facilities or job

opportunities.

Then two years later the process is repeated and many upper-six

leavers enter tertiary education to postpone the inevitable day of starting

work.

Mrs. Symons said: "As conditions in overseas countries change,

especially the United States, fewer Hong Kong students will proceed abroad."

"In this circumstance, even expanded enrolment at our two universities

and the Polytechnic will not be enough."

New planning,