XN000022-1976-05-23 — Page 2

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SUNDAY, MAY 23, 1976

+ IT MATTERS LITTLE WHETHER THESE ARE TO BE PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT OR VOLUNTARY SECTOR SO LONG AS THEY ARE COMPATIBLE WITH ONE ANOTHER IN TERMS OF A GENERAL DESIGN, AND SO COORDINATED AS TO ELIMINATE DUPLICATION, AND EACH RETARDATE HAS ACCESS TO FACILITIES MOST SUITED TO HIS NEEDS, AND THE PROVIDERS HAVE THE EXPERTISE, AND ARE, FURTHERMORE, CAPABLE OF RUNNING THEM EFFICIENTLY AND ECONOMICALLY.+

HOWEVER, HE ADDED, DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS EXIST IN THE OPERATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS AND THE GOVERNMENT, AND THESE ARE FURTHER COMPLICATED BY THE SOURCE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT, DETERMINATION OF THE AREA OF WORK AND LOAD-SHARING AS BETWEEN THE TWO SECTORS AND AMONG THE AGENCIES THEMSELVES.

MR. KHOO CONTINUED THAT IT WAS THE DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT BOTH TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT ARE A STATUTORY OBLIGATION OR IN WHICH IT IS PARTICULARLY COMPETENT, TO DECIDE ON PRIORITIES, AND TO EXERCISE SUPERVISION AND CONTROL OF AND EFFECTING COORDINATION WITHIN THE ENTIRE FIELD.

+BUT THE ASSERTION OF GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY NEEDS IN NO WAY DIMINISH OR ECLIPSE THE ACKNOWLEDGED SOCIALLY INVALUABLE ROLE OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS, HE SAID.

A TOTAL OF 6,668 MODERATE GRADE MENTALLY RETARDED WAS KNOWN TO THE SWD AT THE END OF MARCH THIS YEAR, BUT A CLOSE SCRUTINY REVEALED THAT ONLY 3,512 REQUIRED SERVICES OF A CARE, TRAINING OR EMPLOYMENT NATURE. AS FOR THE ACTUAL NUMBER, IT MAY WELL FALL SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 6,668 AND 12,483 THIS YEAR.

+A CLEAR DESCRIPTION OF THE SIZE AND NATURE OF THE PROBLEM,+ MR. KHOO SAID, +WILL CERTAINLY GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS PLANNING FOR THE LONG-TERM REQUIREMENT FOR BETTER TRAINING, SOCIAL SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT AND ACCOMMODATION.

+HOWEVER, PRESENT INFORMATION INDICATES THAT THE FUTURE TREND IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE SERVICES IS LIKELY TO BE THE PROVISION OF MORE FACILITIES SIMILAR TO EXISTING ONES, SUCH AS DAY CENTRES, SHELTERED WORKSHOPS, RESIDENTIAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRES.+

HE ADDED THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE SERVICES WOULD NATURALLY HAVE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE PRESENT FACILITIES AND THE SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LOCAL NEEDS AND CULTURAL FACTORS.

AND HE FELT THAT TRANSPLANTING AN ALIEN PATTERN WHOLESALE WITHOUT REGARD TO THE LOCAL SITUATION WOULD UNLIKELY PRODUCE THE BEST RESULTS.

HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT IN THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR, THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CARE AND TRAINING OF THE MENTÁLLY RETARDED IS BEING SHARED AMONG THREE DEPARTMENTS, NAMELY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH FOR INSTITUTIONAL CARE FOR THE SEVERE GRADES, SOCIAL WELFARE FOR RESIDENTIAL CARE, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT FOR THE MODERATE GRADES, AND EDUCATION FOR SPEIAL SCHOOLS AND CLASSES FOR THE MILD GRADES AND EDUCATIONALLY SUBNORMAL CHILDREN.

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