XN000022-1974-11-15 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1974.

STATISTICS IN THE WHITE PAPER SHOW THAT SIX ESTATE TYPE+ SECONDARY SCHOOLS ARE EXPECTED TO BE READY BY SEPTEMBER 1976, ANOTHER 36 BY SEPTEMBER 1979 AND THE REMAINING 54 BY SEPTEMBER 1983.

THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF ALL 161 NEW SECONDARY SCHOOLS UNDER THE PROJECTED SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAMMES BY 1983 WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO PHASE OUT THE FLOTATION/EXTENDED DAY SYSTEM, WHICH IS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT IN THE EARLY YEARS OF THE NEW SECONDARY PATTERN.

AS THE WHITE PAPER HAS STRESSED, PHASING OUT OF THIS SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO BE POSTPONED IF FINANCIAL OR OTHER DIFFICULTIES DELAY COMPLETION OF THE BUILDING PROGRAMME.

MEANWHILE, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS TAKING STEPS TO IMPLEMENT PROPOSALS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL EXPANSION CONTAINED IN THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED WHITE PAPER.

THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY HAS MET THE HEADS OF GOVERNMENT, GRANT AND SUBSIDIZED SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO BRIEF THEM AND ASK THEM FOR THEIR CO-OPERATION AND COMMENTS.

BASICALLY, THE DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSED PROGRAMME IS TO ADVANCE ON FIVE FRONTS - THE PROVISION OF ACCOMMODATION, THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SELECTION AND ALLOCATION PROCEDURES, ENHANCED CURRICULA DEVELOPMENT, THE EXPANSION OF TEACHER TRAINING COURSES AND THE DETAILED FINANCING NEEDED TO CARRY OUT THE PROPOSALS.

+THE CORNERSTONE OF THE RAPID PROVISION OF THE NECESSARY NUMBER OF PLACES ON TIME IS THE SMOOTH INTRODUCTION INTO EXISTING SCHOOLS OF THE FLOTATION/EXTENDED DAY SCHEME,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.

THEREFORE WHILE THE GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO FULFIL THE AIMS OF THE AMBITIOUS TARGETS OUTLINED IN THE WHITE PAPER, THE CO-OPERATION AND SUPPORT OF ALL CONCERNED WILL BE REQUIRED, HE SAID.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

COPIES OF A PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING THE NEW STANDARD DESIGN +ESTATE TYPE+ SECONDARY SCHOOL ARE DISTRIBUTED IN THE G.I.S. PRESS BOXES THIS EVENING.

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