XN000022-1976-12-14 — Page 4

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1976

THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SAID IT WAS CLEARLY VISIBLE THAT +THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS DONE A GREAT DEAL, OVER THE YEARS, SO THAT GENERAL EDUCATION FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE IN THE EVENINGS.+

THE VOLUNTARY BODIES HAD ALSO DONE A LOT IN THE WAY OF RETRIEVAL EDUCATION, HE SAID.

THE MAIN REASON GIVEN BY YOUNGSTERS FOR NOT ATTENDING FULL-TIME SCHOOLING WAS EITHER THAT THEY COULD NOT AFFORD IT OR THEY HAD NO INTEREST IN THEIR STUDIES. MOST OF THESE YOUNGSTERS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME FORM OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING,

+ IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE THAT THE SCHOOL DROP-OUT RATE HAS GENERALLY DECREASED STEADILY, THE PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN IN THE 12 TO 14 AGE GROUP NOT AT SCHOOL IN MARCH 1976 WAS 10.5 PER CENT COMPARED TO 15.5 PER CENT IN 1970,+ MR. WATERS SAID.

THE 1974 WHITE PAPER ON SECONDARY EDUCATION RECOMMENDED THAT THERE SHOULD BE THREE YEARS OF SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR EVERY CHILD. WE ARE NOW WORKING TOWARDS THIS GOAL, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SAID.

EARLY PAY DAYS FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

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PEOPLE RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OR THE DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCES THE PAY DAYS OF WHICH FALL WITHIN THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, WILL BE ABLE TO GET THEIR MONEY EARLIER, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY.

AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH THE POST OFFICES, DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND TREASURY OFFICES TO ENABLE RECIPIENTS TO CASH THEIR VOUCHERS EARLIER SO THAT THEY WILL HAVE MONEY FOR THE OCCASION.

THOSE WHOSE PAY DAYS FALL ON DECEMBER 25, 26 AND 27 WILL BE ABLE TO GET THEIR MONEY ON DECEMBER 21, 22 AND 23 RESPECTIVELY.

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