XN000022-1977-03-04 — Page 9

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FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1977

AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS ASSURED JOBS

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THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT ABOUT 272 NEW CLASSES WOULD BE OPENED IN NEW AND DEVELOPING AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR STARTING SEPTEMBER, 1977.

MR. LAM TAT-LAU, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (PRIMARY) SAID +THESE CLASSES WILL BE IN SCHOOLS IN THE NEW TOWNS, IN THE NEW ESTATES IN OTHER DEVELOPING AREAS AND IN AREAS WITH SHORTAGES OF AIDED PLACES.

+AS A RESULT OF A GRADUAL MOVEMENT OF POPULATION TO THE NEW AREAS COUPLED WITH A DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN THE APPROPRIATE PRIMARY AGE GROUP, IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO PHASE OUT 368 SERIOUSLY UNDER-UTILIZED CLASSES IN SEPTEMBER.+

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THIS MEANS A NET REDUCTION OF ONLY 96 CLASSES AND A PLACEMENT SERVICE WILL BE REACTIVATED IN MID-MAY TO HELP TEACHERS WHO ARE AFFECTED BY THE REDISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION. THE SERVICE WILL BE HEADED BY MR. TANG YAN, SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER.

+JUDGING FROM THE SUCCESS OF THE PLACEMENT SERVICE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, IT IS ENVISAGED THAT TEACHERS FROM CLASSES WHICH CLOSE WILL BE ABSORBED BY SCHOOLS WITH VACANCIES ARISING FROM THE OPENING OF NEW CLASSES, RETIREMENT AND OTHER NORMAL WASTAGE,+ MR. LAM SAID. THE CLOSE CO-OPERATION OF THE SCHOOL SPONSORS. WHO MADE A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE SUCCESS OF THE SERVICE IN PREVIOUS YEARS, IS AGAIN EXPECTED.

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