XN000022-1974-07-20 — Page 2

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 1974

ADULTS URGED TO IMPROVE THEIR KNOWLEDGE

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THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. JOHN CANNING, TODAY URGED THE ADULT POPULATION OF HONG KONG TO JOIN COURSES RUN BY THE ADULT EDUCATION SECTION OF HIS DEPARTMENT TO BETTER THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT.

ONE OF THE AIMS OF ADULT EDUCATION WAS TO HELP THE INDIVIDUAL TO ADAPT HIMSELF TO CHANGING ENVIRONMENT, TO EQUIP HIN WITH THE NECESSARY SKILLS AND TO CULTIVATE IN HIN A HEALTHY ATTITUDE FOR ADJUSTMENT IN MODERN SOCIETY, HE TOLD THE OPENING OF THE 19TH ADULT EDUCATION CONFERENCE AT QUEEN ELIZABETH SCHOOL.

THE DIRECTOR SPOKE ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL'S NEED TO UP-DATE HIS KNOWLEDGE IN ORDER TO KEEP UP WITH LATEST TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS.

BESIDES ACQUIRING ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, AN ADULT EDUCATION COURSE WOULD MAKE HIM MORE CIVIC CONSCIOUS AND THEREFORE HELP HIM LEAD A MEANINGFUL LIFE.

IN THE PAST IT WAS UNFORTUNATE THAT SOME PEOPLE LOOKED UPON ADULT EDUCATION ONLY AS A SORT OF REMEDIAL AND SECOND CHANCE EDUCATION.

MR. CANNING GAVE AN ASSURANCE THAT THE ADULT EDUCATION SECTION WOULD TRY TO MAKE ITS COURSES AND ACTIVITIES MORE INTERESTING AND STIMULATING SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD PURSUE SOME PURPOSEFUL ACTIVITIES IN AN ADULT EDUCATION CENTRE RATHER THAN SPENDING THEIR LEISURE TIME IN OTHER FORMS OF ENTERTAINMENT.

HE HOPED THAT MORE PEOPLE WOULD ATTEND NOT ONLY PRACTICAL COURSES, SUCH AS WOODWORK, COOKING, FLOWER ARRANGEMENT AND SO ON BUT ALSO THE MORE SOPHISTICATED AND PHILOSOPHICAL ONES MUSIC, LITERATURE APPRECIATION, CHILD HEALTH AND PARENTHOOD.

THE DIRECTOR REPORTED THAT GENERAL BACKGROUND EDUCATION AND RURAL LITERACY COURSES AS WELL AS THE EVENING INSTITUTE'S MIDDLE SCHOOL COURSE AND EVENING SECONDARY SCHOOL COURSES FOR ADULTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE WERE VERY POPULAR.

THE OBJECT OF THE CURRENT CONFERENCE. MR. CANNING SAID, WAS TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE INVOLVED IN ADULT EDUCATION TO EXCHANGE VIEWS AND IDEAS.

HE CALLED ON PARTICIPANTS TO PLAY AN ACTIVE PART BY PUTTING FORWARD SUGGESTIONS ON WAYS AND MEANS OF IMPROVING ADULT EDUCATION IN HONG KONG.

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