XN000022-1977-07-09 — Page 5

RISING ENROLMENTS IN PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS

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THERE ARE MORE THAN 5,700 PUPILS IN EIGHT PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS AT PRESENT. IN SEPTEMBER THE ENROLMENT WILL BE NEARLY 6,200 IN TEN SUCH SCHOOLS.

IN SEPTEMBER 1980 THERE WILL BE 13 PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS WITH SOME 9,500 PUPILS. AND THE ENROLMENT BY SEPTEMBER 1982 IS EXPECTED TO RISE TO MORE THAN 10,800 IN THESE 13 SCHOOLS.

THESE STATISTICS WERE QUOTED BY THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY WHEN HE ADDRESSED PUPILS AND GUESTS AT THE PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY OF THE HOLY CARPENTER PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL THIS AFTERNOON. THE CEREMONY WAS HELD AT THE MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.

*THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS SEEKING ENTRY INTO PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS IN THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR IS FIVE TIMES MORE THAN THE NUMBER OF PLACES AVAILABLE. THIS SHOWS THAT PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS, WHICH ARE FULLY AIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, ARE HERE TO STAY AND THEIR CONTINUED POPULARITY IS A CLEAR INDICATION THAT THEY ARE FULFILLING A NEED, + MR. TOPLEY SAID.

THE DIRECTOR TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO REASSURE SPONSORS OF PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS THAT THEIR SCHOOLS HAD AN INTEGRAL PART TO PLAY IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

+ALTHOUGH PREVOCATIONAL EDUCATION IS A SMALL PART IN THE SYSTEM IT IS NEVERTHELESS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN THE EDUCATION PLAN.

+1 HOPE THIS STATEMENT WILL REMOVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT THE ROLE OF PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS WHICH, INCIDENTALLY, ARE NOT IN EXISTENCE TO PROVIDE A FORM OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. THESE SCHOOLS DO NOT TURN OUT INSTANT CRAFTSMEN'. THEY ARE PART AND PARCEL OF OUR SECONDARY SCHOOL SYSTEM.

+BECAUSE OF THIS, I HAVE TRANSFERRED RESPONSIBILITY FOR PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS FROM THE TECHNICAL DIVISION TO THE SECONDARY DIVISION. IN THIS WAY

IN THIS WAY, ALL SECONDARY SCHOOLS ARE HANDLED BY THE SAME DIVISION IN MY DEPARTMENT. THE TECHNICAL DIVISION WILL CONTINUE TO BE CONSULTED WHEN THE SECONDARY DIVISION REQUIRES ADVICE ON THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS,+ MR. TOPLEY SAID.

DURING THE PAST SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS, HONG KONG'S INDUSTRY HAS BECOME MORE DIVERSIFIED AND SOPHISTICATED REQUIRING BETTER EDUCATED AND MORE ADAPTABLE EMPLOYEES WITH A WIDER EDUCATIONAL BASE.

+WE ALSO KNOW THAT NINE YEARS OF GENERAL EDUCATION WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL, THE DIRECTOR SAID.

HE ADDED : +BECAUSE OF SUCH CHANGES AND BECAUSE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT MUST BE AN ONGOING PROCESS WE ARE LOOKIN AT THE CURRICULUM AND SYLLABUSES IN ALL OUR PREVOCATIONAL SHOOLS. (THE PREVOCATIONALS THEMSELVES ARE INVOLVED IN THIS EXERCISE). I AM SURE YOU WILL AGREE WE MUST GET THEM RIGHT AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE PROVIDING WHAT IS REQUIRED, +

WHILE THE