XN000022-1974-12-27 — Page 7

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1974.

MR. WATERS SAID THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WAS FULLY AWARE THAT +SOME PUPILS IN PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS MAY WISH TO ENTER SENIOR SECONDARY COURSES IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND WE ARE GIVING THIS MATTER CAREFUL ATTENTION.

+IN ADDITION, AFTER 1982, WHEN THE NEW JUNIOR CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION IS EXPECTED TO BE HELD, PUPILS FROM PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS SHOULD BE ABLE TO SIT THIS EXAMINATION FOR SELECTION TO FORM IV IN THE AIDED SECTOR.+

THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SAID THAT TECHNICAL EDUCATION WAS A VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT AND THE GOVERNMENT HAD DONE A GREAT DEAL DURING RECENT YEARS - THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE POLYTECHNIC THE SETTING UP OF A TECHNICAL BRANCH, INCLUDING A TECHNICAL INSPECTORATE, IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TECHNICAL TEACHERS COLLEGE- THE INTRODUCTION OF ENHANCED FINANCIAL GRANTS FOR STUDENT TECHNICAL TEACHERS THE ADDITION OF AN EXTRA FLOOR TO THE WORKSHOP WING OF THE MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEPARTMENT OF PRINTING IN THE INSTITUTE.

TWO MORE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES - ONE AT KWAI CHUNG AND THE OTHER AT KWUN TONG WILL BE OPENED IN 1975.

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ANOTHER ONE AT CHEUNG SHA WAN IS EXPECTED TO OPEN IN 1977/78 AND THE SAN PO KONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

PREPARATION WAS IN HAND FOR THREE MORE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AT SHA TIN, TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN.

PLANS WERE GOING AHEAD FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF PRACTICAL/ TECHNICAL SUBJECTS INTO ALL SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN LINE WITH THE WHITE PAPER RECOMMENDATIONS.

MR. WATERS SAID: "+SUCH DEVELOPMENTS ARE OBVIOUSLY IMPORTANT. WE ALL KNOW THAT THE EXPANSION AND INCREASED SOPHISTICATION OF INDUSTRY AND THE RELATED AREAS OF THE ECONOMY WILL DEPEND TO A VERY LARGE EXTENT ON A SOUND TECHNICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME.+

NOTE TO EDITORS:

COPIES OF THE FULL TEXT OF MR. WATERS' SPEECH IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE ARE DISTRIBUTED SEPARATELY IN THE G.I.S. PRESS BOXES.

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