XN000022-1974-11-13 — Page 24

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1974.

- 23 -

+I HAVE BEGUN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ENGLISH SCHOOLS

FOUNDATION AND THE JOINT COUNVIL OF PARENT-TEACHERS ASSOCIATIONS AS TO HOW BEST TO MEET THIS SITUATION, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE BREATHING SPACE PROVIDED BY THE TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS WHICH I HAVE DESCRIBED,+ HE SAID.

GOOD PROGRESS MADE

THE DIRECTOR ENDED HIS ADDRESS BY DRAWING ATTENTION TO THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF PROGRESS ACHIEVED SINCE THE PREVIOUS WHITE PAPER ON EDUCATION WAS APPROVED IN THE.LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN 1965.

IN 1964 THERE WERE SOME 43,000 KINDERGARTEN PUPILS WHEREAS THIS YEAR THERE ARE 144,000. IN 1964 THERE WERE 316,000 PUPILS IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, TODAY THERE ARE 577,000 SUCH PUPILS.

AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL THE NUMBER ENROLLED IN GOVERNMENT, GRANT AND SUBSIDIZED SCHOOLS WAS 47,000. TODAY THERE ARE 180,000 PUPILS ENROLLED IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, INCLUDING BOUGHT PLACES.

+IN THE FIELD OF QUALITY, HE SAID, THERE HAS BEEN A COMPARABLE ADVANCE AS INSTANCED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF E.T.V. INTO SCHOOLS AT THE PRIMARY LEVEL, THE EXTENSION FROM ONE- YEAR TO TWO-YEARS COURSES IN THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION AND THE INTRODUCTION OF THREE-YEAR COURSES IN CERTAIN SPECIALIST FIELDS THE SETTING UP OF TEACHING CENTRES.... THE BUILDING OF A TECHNICAL INSTITUTE- THE OPENING OF A TECHNICAL TEACHERS' COLLEGE, THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAMME AND AT FORM V LEVEL THE CHANGE FROM A GROUP BASED EXAMINATION TO A SUBJECT BASED ONE WHICH CAN BE TAKEN IN EITHER ENGLISH OR CHINESE.+

MR. TOPLEY MENTIONED THE VIGOROUS DEVELOPMENT OF THE CURRICULUM AND TEACHING TECHNIQUES DURING THIS PERIOD WHEN FREE PRIMARY SCHOOLING WAS INTRODUCED.

IN THE SAME PERIOD TWO DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION WERE APPROVED, A NEW TEACHING STRUCTURE AND INCREASED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WAS ACCORDED TO SCHOOLS IN THE AIDED SECTOR AND THE FORMER TECHNICAL COLLEGE DEVELOPED INTO A POLYTECHNIC.

AS REGARDS THE FUTURE, MR. TOPLEY SAID: THERE IS MUCH STILL TO BE DONE AS I WELL KNOW. I AM SURE I CAN RELY UPON THE SUPPORT OF HONOURABLE MEMBERS IN THIS AND INDEED WE SHALL NEED THE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT OF THOSE CONCERNED WITH AND CONCERNED ABOUT EDUCATION IN ALL SECTIONS OF OUR SOCIETY.+

P

/24