XN000022-1975-04-16 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 1975

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NEW SYLLABUSES TO SUIT NEEDS OF STUDENTS

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THE PROPOSED NEW SYLLABUS FOR SOCIAL STUDIES IS ONE OF A SERIES OF SYLLABUSES THAT ARE NOW BEING FINALISED BY THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.

IT IS INTENDED TO ISSUE THESE NEW SYLLABUSES BEFORE THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR IN SEPTEMBER SO THAT INTERESTED SCHOOLS MAY USE THEM WITH A VIEW TO FINDING OUT WHETHER ANY MODIFICATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO SUIT THE NEEDS OF HONG KONG STUDENTS.

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+AT THIS STAGE, PUBLISHERS ARE NOT BEING ASKED TO PRODUCE NEW TEXTBOOKS UNTIL THESE NEW SYLLABUSES HAVE BEEN FULLY TRIED OUT AND MODIFIED IF NECESSARY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING IN THE TRYING OUT PROCESS WILL RECEIVE EVERY POSSIBLE HELP IN THE FORM OF ADVICE AND MATERIALS FROM THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE.

HE POINTED OUT THAT IN THE CASE OF CONSUMER EDUCATION, THE SOCIAL STUDIES SYLLABUS INCORPORATED THIS TOPIC AT AN EARLY STAGE. FOLLOWING AN EXCHANGE OF VIEWS WITH THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, TOPICS IN THE SOCIAL STUDIES FIELD RELATING TO THE ROLE OF THE CONSUMER WERE PUT TOGETHER AND EXPANDED UNDER THE HEADING CONSUMER EDUCATION.

RECENTLY, A CONSUMER EDUCATION ADVISER FROM BRITAIN, MRS. ALMA WILLIAMS, VISITED HONG KONG AND DURING HER STAY HAD ADVISED THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ON PROBLEMS CONCERNING CONSUMER EDUCATION.

FOLLOWING THIS VISIT, PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN MADE TO MODIFY THE SOCIAL STUDIES SYLLABUS IN THE LIGHT OF MRS. WILLIAMS ADVICE AND THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IS NOW CONSIDERING THESE MODIFICATIONS,

+DETAILS OF THE NEW SYLLABUSES WILL BE RELEASED AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID. THE TOPICS RELATING TO CONSUMER EDUCATION ARE DESIGNED TO GIVE STUDENTS A BACKGROUND. SO THAT THEY APPRECIATE THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS A CONSUMER AND BE ABLE TO USE INTELLIGENTLY THE CONSUMER SERVICES OFFERED IN HONG KONG.

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