XN000022-1974-11-20 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1974.

1. 1974.

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THE DIRECTOR SAID THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN ABLE TO PLAN AND WAS NOW BEGINNING TO IMPLEMENT A PILOT SCHEME.

IN SAYING THAT THE SCHEME WOULD RECEIVE HIS FULLEST CO- OPERATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT, MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT A PROMISING START HAD BEEN MADE IN THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL PLANNING NECESSARY TO LAUNCH THE SCHEME.

HE SAID THE PRINCIPAL OFFICERS OF THE THREE DISTRICTS OF THE FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAVE APPROACHED INFORMALLY A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS IN THEIR AREAS TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF PROVIDING SUPPORT+ SOCIAL WORK FACILITIES IN THE SCHOOL SETTING.

+THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN MOST ENCOURAGING,+ THE DIRECTOR SAID. THE PRINCIPAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICERS HAVE AGREED TO LOOK AFTER FIVE SCHOOLS ON A PART-TIME BASIS.

ALTHOUGH THE SCHEME WAS MODEST AND EXPERIMENTAL IT WAS A WELCOME ADDITION TO THE COUNSELLING SERVICES ALREADY PROVIDED IN CERTAIN SCHOOLS BY SEVEN VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES.

POINTING OUT THAT WE HAVE CLEARLY VERY FAR TO GO IN THIS FIELD,+ MR. TOPLEY STRESSED THAT COUNSELLING WAS COSTLY AND VERY LABOUR INTENSIVE.

+MOREOVER, IN TURNING OUR ATTENTION TO THE SOCIAL ASPECTS OF EDUCATION WE MUST KEEP A SENSE OF PROPORTION AND NOT THROW OUT THE BABY WITH THE BATH WATER. ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND THE PUPIL THAT IS BRIGHT AND OF GOOD POTENTIAL ACADEMICALLY HAVE A SOUND CLAIM FOR OUR SUPPORT AND CLOSE ATTENTION, HE SAID.

IN THE SEARCH FOR GREATER EQUALITY AND MORE SOCIAL EMPHASIS. MR. TOPLEY EMPHASISED THAT THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE GIFTED PUPIL MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN.

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