XN000022-1973-06-28 — Page 4

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Thursday, June 28, 1973

SUMMER VACATION TO BEGIN AS SCHEDULED

The Director of Education has given careful consideration to the

suggestion that the current school term should be extended by two days but

is unable to agree to it.

Explaining the position in a circular to heads of all schools,

Mr. Charles Lowe, the Deputy Director of Education (Administration) said:

"It is not envisaged, in the circumstances, as a productive way of serving

the interest of the pupils, who will by then have completed their course

of study and the terminal examination and will be anxious for the chance

to relax and refresh themselves after a year of arduous work.

"It has therefore been decided that the summer programme should

begin immediately when the term ends, in accordance with the arrangements

already planned."

He said the summer programme has been designed to broaden pupils'

experience and interests in a non-academic way and the success of the greatly

expanded programme this year will depend largely, as it has in the past,

on the enthusiastic help by teachers.

Mr. Love pointed out that a useful contribution teachers could

make was by offering voluntary help to support the summer programme either

by supplementing the programme already arranged in their own schools for

their pupils or by volunteering to give additional support to the summer

activities programmes co-ordinated by the government.

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