XN000022-1975-03-05 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1975

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NO ENTRANCE EXAM FOR ADMISSION TO PRIMARY ONE

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THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS ASKED THE SUPERVISORS OF ALL AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS TO INVITE APPLICATIONS FOR ADMISSION TO PRIMARY 1 ON MARCH 15.

IN A CIRCULAR TO THE SUPERVISORS, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (PRIMARY), MR. LAM TAT-LAU STATED THAT SELECTION OF PUPILS SHOULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN ONE MONTH SO THAT AN ACCURATE ASSESSMENT OF THE NEED FOR PRIMARY CLASSES FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR COULD BE MADE.

HE EMPHASISED THAT IN SELECTING PUPILS THE SCHOOLS HAD BEEN ASKED TO ABANDON FORMAL TESTS IN ATTAINMENT INCLUDING THOSE FOR CHINESE, ARITHMETIC OR ENGLISH SUBJECTS.

THE SCHOOLS COULD SEND LETTERS TO SUITABLE CANDIDATES AND THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS INVITING THEM TO ATTEND AN INTERVIEW. THE CHILDREN APPLYING FOR ADMISSION SHOULD BE SIX YEARS OLD OR UNDER LIGHT YEARS OF AGE BY WESTERN RECKONING ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1975.

MR. LAM SAID IT WAS NOT CORRECT AS REPORTED IN A NUMBER OF NEWSPAPERS THAT THESE CHILDREN WOULD BE REQUIRED TO TAKE AN ENTRANCE EXAMINATION FOR ADMISSION TO PRIMARY 1.

HE DENIED THAT SUCH AN EXAMINATION WOULD BE INTRODUCED THIS YEAR. IN FACT, MR. LAM SAID, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WAS NOT IN FAVOUR OF FORMAL TESTS FOR THE ADMISSION OF THESE CHILDREN.

IN VIEW OF THE PRESENT FINANCIAL STRINGENCY AND OF THE COMPETING CLAIMS FOR OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS ASSESSING THE NEED FOR PRIMARY CLASSES FOR THE 1975-76 SCHOOL YEAR, MR. LAM SAID.

TO ASSIST WITH THE ESTIMATE, APPLICANTS FOR ADMISSION TO PRIMARY 1 IN ANY GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOL WILL BE ASKED TO GIVE THE NAMES OF ANY OTHER SCHOOLS TO WHICH THEY HAVE ALSO APPLIED.

THE SUPERVISORS AND HEADS OF THE AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS CONCERNED HAVE BEEN ASKED TO SEND LISTS OF SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES TOGETHER WITH COPIES OF THE CANDIDATES' APPLICATION FORMS TO THE APPROPRIATE SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICERS AT THE HONG KONG AND KOWLOON SUB OFFICES OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BY APRIL 15. THE SCHOOLS WILL RETAIN THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION FORMS.

MR. LAM ALSO ASKED THE SCHOOLS TO INVITE APPLICATIONS FOR ADMISSION TO PRIMARY 2 AND OTHER CLASSES AS SOON AS PRIMARY 1 ENROLMENT WAS COMPLETED.

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