XN000022-1973-11-14 — Page 3

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Wednesday, November 14, 1973

"Undeniably we have to increase places in junior secondary

schools as quickly as possible if we want to attack the problems at the

roots,"

But expedient measures should also be taken at the same time;

and Mr. Wang suggeste the following:

Abolition of the practice of non-repetition in classes: Pupils under 14 who have failed in the Secondary School Entrance Examination should be given the chance to repeat in their class and

the same for backward students in all other classes. This should reduce the number of pupils who have to drop out and should also relieve children from being over-pressured with lessons harder than

they could tackle.

Counselling service for children: Such a service can be accommodated in community centres or in City District Offices, with their functions being to render counselling to parents on problems arising from their children dropping out from school under the age of 14, and to help and advise these children on taking up some suitable occupation.

Modification of the Labour Ordinance which forbids

the employment of children under 14: Provided that these children work under well supervised condition, such as limited working hours and good health and safety precautionary measures, they should be allowed to work with every possible assistance by the Government.

To increase