XN000022-1977-10-05 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1977

13

+FROM SEPTEMBER 1978 THERE WILL BE A SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACE FOR EVERY PRIMARY SCHOOL LEAVER. THERE WILL BE NO MORE HEARTACHE FOR CHILDREN LOSING THEIR CHANCE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION THROUGH FAILURE IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS ENTRANCE EXAMINATION BECAUSE THERE WILL BE PLACES FOR ALL.

+TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE 51,483 ADDITIONAL JUNIOR SECONDARY PLACES WILL HAVE BEEN PROVIDED SINCE THE POLICY WAS ANNOUNCED IN FEBRUARY 1976 ADD SOME 54 NEW SCHOOLS CONSTRUCTED.

+ IT IS PROPOSED TO BUILD A FURTHER 48 SCHOOLS, 1B MORE THAN I ENVISAGED LAST YEAR SO AS TO ENSURE PLACES FOR A PROPER STANDARD FOR ALL IN THESE FORMS, AND TO IMPROVE REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION.

ON PRIMARY EDUCATION, SIR MURRAY SAID TWO WORKING COMMITTEES, UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF A STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO EXAMINE THE QUALITY OF PRIMARY EDUCATION AND ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, AND THE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN BELOW PRIMARY SCHOOL AGE IN KINDERGARTENS AND DAY CARE CENTRES.

+WHEN THE IR PROPOSALS ARE READY, THEY WILL BE THE SUBJECT OF WIDER CONSULTATION BEFORE DECISIONS ARE TAKEN, + SIR MURRAY SAID.

REVIEWING HIGHER EDUCATION, SIR MURRAY SAID A WORKING PARTY IS PREPARING A REPORT ON THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION AND IT WILL BE ISSUED SHORTLY.

HE NOTED THAT THIS MIGHT BE A SUBJECT OF A GREEN PAPER BEFORE ANY FINAL DECISION IS TAKEN.

SIR MURRAY ALSO REVEALED THAT THE GREEN PAPER WILL TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT A WHOLE RANGE OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FORM I LEAVER TO CONTINUE HIS EDUCATION IN SENIOR SECONDARY FORMS, TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND IN ADULT EDUCATION CENTRES AND PROPOSÉ IMPROVEMENTS.

+IT WILL DEAL SIMILARLY WITH THE EDUCATION SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR FORM V AND FORM VI LEAVERS IN THE POLYTECHNIC, THE UNIVERSITIES, THE POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES AND ELSEWHERE.

+MEANTIME, PLANS FOR EXPANDING STUDENT NUMBERS AT THE UNIVERSITIES AND THE POLYTECHNIC ARE PROCEEDING WELL, HE SAID.

TURNING TO INDUSTRIAL TRAINING, SIR MURRAY SAID ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE TRAINING COUNCIL, HE WILL SHORTLY MAKE AN ORDER DESIGNATING FIVE MORE TRADES COVERED BY THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE APART FROM THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THIS WILL MORE THAN DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF TRAINEES COVERED BY THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE.

IN ADDITION, SIR MURRAY SAID, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACCEPTED IN PRINCIPLE THE TRAINING COUNCIL'S RECOMMENDATION TO EXTEND TRAINING TO THE COMMERCIAL AND SERVICE SECTORS AND HAS INVITED THE TRAINING COUNCIL TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS.

/14