XN000022-1975-04-04 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 1975

CLOSE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS PRAISED *#*#**

THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY THIS AFTERNOON PAID TRIBUTE TO THE MANY VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS FOR CLOSELY CO- OPERATING WITH THE GOVERNMENT IN THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES

IN HONG KONG.

SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE PENTECOSTAL SCHOOL, MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT THE SCHOOL WAS A FINE EXAMPLE OF WHAT COULD BE ACHIEVED THROUGH WORKING TOGETHER CLOSELY.

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THE DIRECTOR SAID THAT THE PENTECOSTAL SCHOOL - A PRIVATE NON- PROFIT MAKING SECONDARY SCHOOL WAS BUILT ON LAND GRANTED FREE BY THE GOVERNMENT.

AN INTEREST-FREE LOAN OF OVER $3,300,000, DEING BO PER CENT OF THE TOTAL COST OF THE BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT, WAS ALSO GRANTED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

THE SCHOOL OFFERS THREE-YEAR ASSISTED PLACES AND THE GOVERNMENT PAYS A RECURRENT SUBSIDY OF $772 A YEAR FOR EACH ASSISTED PLACE, $460 OF WHICH HELPS THE STUDENTS WITH HIS SCHOOL FEES AND 3312 HELPS THE SCHOOL PAY BETTER SALARIES TO TEACHERS AND TO MEET OTHER EXPENDITURE.

MR. TOPLEY WAS PLEASED TO LEARN THAT THE PENTECOSTAL SCHOOL HAD MADE GOOD PROGRESS SINCE IT STARTED OPERATION IN SEPTEMBER 1973.

HE NOTED THAT THE FIRST BATCH OF FORM 5 STUDENTS WOULD BE TAKING THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION NEXT YEAR.

TURNING TO BELIEF AND ACTION, MR. TOPLEY SPOKE ABOUT THE MORAL ELEMENT IN EDUCATION.

+ IT IS INDEED HARD TO GET THIS MORAL ELEMENT ACROSS. WE LEARN A NUMBER OF SKILLS IN THE COURSE OF OUR EDUCATION AND THESE NEED TO BE DIRECTED NOT JUST BY A NEW SKILL BUT BY OUR BELIEFS BROUGHT INTO PLAY TO ENABLE US TO USE OUR SKILLS IN THE PROPER WAY. IT IS INDEED HARD FOR THE TEACHER TO GET THIS MORAL ELEMENT ACROSS BECAUSE SKILLS ACQUIRE A LIFE AND MOTIVE POWER OF THEIR OWN AND ARE NOT EASILY DISCIPLINED.

WE AS HUMAN BEINGS ARE IN FACT EITHER DIRECTED BY THE FORCES OF SOCIETY, OR BY OUR OWN DESIRES, OR DIRECTED BY OUR MORAL PRINCIPLES, FAITH OR DELIEF. AND IT IS HARD FOR OUR BELIEFS CONFINED BY COMPETING PRESSURES TO ACQUIRE VERY POWERFUL LEVERAGE,+ HE SAID.

THE DIRECTOR EMPHASISED THAT OUR BELIEFS NEED TO BE TESTED, DISCIPLINED AND SHAPED BY OUR ACTIONS AND THE VISIBLE RESULTS OF OUR ACTIONS.*

HE WAS PLEASED THEREFORE THAT MEMBERS OF THE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH HAD TURNED THEIR BELIEFS TO ACTION BY BUILDING AND RUNNING THIS NEW SCHOOL.

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