XN000022-1973-08-21 — Page 9

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Tuesday, August 21, 1973

MORE SCHOOLS FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN

luch progresa has been made to provide education for handicapped

children in Hong Kong since the Education Department's Special Education

Section was established 13 years ago, the Director of Education, Mr. J.

Canning said this (Tuesday) morning.

Speaking at the opening of the First Conference on Special

Education at the Grantham College of Education, Mr. Canning said that at

present there were 32 special schools for severely handicapped children

compared with eight in 1961.

"These are all run by religious or voluntary organisations who

are the pioneers of this form of education," he said.

The Director pointed out that in 1961 there were no special

classes in ordinary primary schools for less severely handicapped children

whereas today there were 54 such classes in government primary schools →→

44 for slow-learning children, eight for partially hearing children and two

for partially sighted children.

In 1961 there were no educational assessment or remedial services.

¡Today, assessment services include audiometric screening,

audiological testing, speech screening and testing, psychological testing

and educational assessment.

"Remedial services include auditory training, speech therapy and

special classes,

"In the last academic year 22,000 children were doalt with by the

services which are provided by the Special Education Section of the Education

Department," he said.

/Twelve