XN000022-1973-03-28 — Page 7

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Wednesday, March 28, 1973

SECONDARY EDUCATION EXPANSION PROGRAMME

Director of Education Replies To Unofficials

The reconstituted Board of Education is at present considering the

secondary expansion programme and it is as much concerned about the quality

as the quantity of education.

This was stated during the resumed Budget debate in Legislative Council

this afternoon by the Director of Education, Mr. J. Canning, when he replied

to points raised by three Unofficial Members, Mrs. Joyce Symons, Mr. H.J.C. Browne

and Mr. James Wu.

Included in the Board's terms of reference is the need to get the

balance right between secondary schools offering technical and vocational courses.

This is receiving close attention, he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Canning is waiting for a report from Mr. K.G. Lavender, Principal of Wandsworth Technical College, who spent three weeks here to advise

on the future development of secondary technical schools.

"I propose to present his report to the Board of Education in order that they may have the benefit of Mr. Lavender's advice in their deliberations,

the Director said.

ELI

On the training of teachers for mentally handicapped children, Mr. Canning said his department's Special Education Section had been running one-year in-service training courses for teachers of slow-learning children since 1970.

He said: To date 27 teachers in special schools and special classes in

ordinary schools have been trained in these courses. The Special Education Section also gives lectures in special education treatment to teachers in training in the

colleges of education."

Mr. Canning