XN000022-1976-04-12 — Page 6

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Monday, April 12, 1976

CREDITATION SYSTEM FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION

The Technical Branch of the Education Department is now working on

a creditation system which will provide a link between pre-vocational,

technical institute and polytechnic courses, the Deputy Director of Education

(Technical), Mr. Andrew Kingwell, said this afternoon.

He was speaking at the opening of the Cotton Spinners' Association

Pre-vocational School in Kwai Chung by the Commissioner for Labour,

Mr. Ian Price.

Mr. Kingwell stressed that the curriculum in pre-vocational schools

consisted of about 55 per cent general education and the practical work was

split between three related trades.

"It cannot be over-emphasised that these are not trade schools

or vocational training centres.

"They are primarily schools providing an education through the

medium of practical expression. They are certainly not industrial training

Industrial training is the responsibility of industry," the

centres.

Deputy Director said.

At present there are seven pre-vocational schools with more than

5,000 places. Another five are planned or approved in principle.

"The total planned provision of this type of education will soon

be increased from 11,000 places to 18,000 places," Mr. Kingwell said.

He pointed out that at present the available pre-vocational places

were over-subscribed approximately tenfold. Last year 10,976 candidates

competed for 1,018 places,

This is