XN000022-1975-07-14 — Page 8

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MONDAY, JULY 14, 1975

HE ALSO CONGRATULATED THE GRADUATES OF THE IN-SERVICE COURSE OF TRAINING FOR TEACHERS (I.C.T.T.) FOR COMPLETING WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS AN +ARDUOUS COURSE+.

MR. LOVE TOLD THE STAFF THAT +1.C.T.T. TRAINING IS A MOST VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO YOUR TEACHER TRAINING EFFORTS. IT IS VERY HARD WORK AND I THINK THERE MIGHT BE A CASE, PARTICULARLY AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL, FOR EXTENDING YOUR EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS TOWARDS A BLOCK RELEASE SYSTEM AND FOR MUCH MORE EMPHASIS ON THE FULL-TIME COURSES AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL.+

THE 1.C.T.T. PROGRAMME PLAYED A TREMENDOUS PART IN EXPANDING THE PUBLIC SECTOR OF PRIMARY EDUCATION AND WILL HAVE AN EVEN MORE VITAL ROLE WHEN THE WHITE PAPER SECONDARY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME GOT UNDER WAY.

MR. LOWE URGED TEACHERS TO CULTIVATE A PLEASANT, HAPPY, SYMPATHETIC BUT FIRM DISPOSITION.

+REMEMBER TEACHING DOES NOT BEGIN AND END IN THE CLASSROOM. THERE IS NO PERFECT TEACHING METHOD AND NO PERFECT ANSWER TO THE TEACHER'S PROBLEMS.+

MR. LOWE, WHO WILL BE RETIRING IN NOVEMBER, TOLD THE GRADUATES THAT HE WAS AWARE OF THE EMPLOYMENT DIFFICULTIES THIS YEAR AND POSSIBLY NEXT.

+1 ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE ALL VERY CONCERNED BY THE SITUATION. WE WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE ASSISTANCE THAT IS WITHIN OUR POWER.

+BASICALLY THE SOLUTION IS IN THE EXPANSION OF EDUCATION WHICH WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE NECESSARY OPPORTUNITIES.

+THIS REQUIRES MONEY AND TIMES ARE DIFFICULT BUT I KNOW THAT THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS AND THE GOVERNMENT, ARE VERY CONCERNED AND WILL PROVIDE MONEY FOR EXPANSION JUST AS SOON AS IT IS AVAILABLE,+ MR. LOVE SAID.

HE MENTIONED THAT HIS GREATEST WORRY ABOUT EDUCATION IN HONG KONG WAS CONCERNED WITH THE SECONDARY SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAMINATION AND ITS ABOLITION. +1 AM AT PRESENT CHAIRING A WORKING PARTY TO THIS END, HE ADDED.

BUT HE SOUNDED A WARNING THE NEARER WE GET TO FORMULATING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ENTIRELY WHOLESOME PURPOSE OF ABOLISHING S.S.E.E. THE NEARER WE GET TO INTRODUCING THE J.C.E. (JUNIOR CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION) TO SELECT 40 PER CENT OF THE 15-16 AGE GROUP FOR FORMS 4 AND 5.

+WHILE NO ONE WOULD DENY THE EDUCATIONAL AND POLITICAL NECESSITY OF ABOLISHING S.S.E.E. THE PRICE WE PAY MAY BE DISASTROUS EDUCATIONALLY IF IT IS THE INTRODUCTION OF J.C.E.+

MR. LOVE

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