XN000022-1976-04-07 — Page 34

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Wednesday, April 7, 1976

"It will be a long and difficult job but, in the long run, we must

rely on the Schools Building Programme, for a sufficient stock of purpose-

built schools provides the right educational environment for improving

standards and for introducing constructive change into the educational

system," Mr. Topley said.

The Education Department was committed to a programe of continuous

adjustment and improvement of the new curriculum for Forms 1 to 3 to meet

the proven needs of schools.

"But, like the Schools Building Programme, comprehensive application

of these improvements and adjustments, required to achieve a basic junior

secondary education for all, will take time and resources.

"And it is of course vital to win the support of the schools,"

Mr. Topley emphasised.

Pointing out that much work had been done in establishing the range

of choices for introducing the technical/practical element into schools,

the Director said it was now clear that an effective solution would be

expensive by any route.

As a priority in technical education Mr. Topley said that maximum

use should be made of the three technical institutes. Another two were being

built.

"The recent enactment of the Apprenticeship Ordinance ensures that

I am continually reminded of the need to provide the right day-release courses

for the young apprentices whose employers will soon be sending them to the

technical institutes, which were after all specially designed for this

purpose," Mr. Topley said.

Ahile the Education