XN000022-1977-10-27 — Page 3

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1977

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SHE HOPED THAT SUGGESTIONS BY VOLUNTARY BODIES TO START REGULAR COURSES FOR THE TRAINING OF KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS WOULD BE GIVEN EARLY AND SYMPATHETIC CONSIDERATION.

SHE WAS ENCOURAGED TO NOTE THAT THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES WAS CHAIRING THE STEERING COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE PRE-PRIMARY FACILITIES. FOR IT WAS IMPORTANT, SHE SAID, TO CO-ORDINATE WHAT WAS BEING DONE BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN THESE FIELDS.

ON TERTIARY EDUCATION, REV. BENNETT SAID SHE WAS INCREASINGLY CONCERNED THAT STUDENTS OF AN ACADEMIC CALIBRE AND QUALIFICATION ABLE TO BENEF IT WERE DENIED SUCH EDUCATION BECUASE OF INADEQUATE PLACES AT THE UNIVERSITIES AND THE POLYTECHNIC.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE STANDARD OF THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY MATRICULATION EXAMINATION HAD BEEN RAISED EXTREMELY HIGH IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS.

SHE HOPED THAT THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE SYLLABUSES OF THE ADVANCED LEVEL EXAMINATIONS AND COMPARE THEM WITH THOSE OF THE UNIVERSITY COURSES.

+WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PRESSURISE OUR SIXTH FORM STUDENTS ANY LONGER TO STUDY MATERIAL UNSUITABLE AND IRRELEVANT TO THEM,+ SHE SAID.

QUOTING THE GOVERNOR'S REFERENCE TO THE NEED FOR GREATER CONSULATION WITH THE PEOPLE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, REV. BENNETT THOUGHT OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, ALSO, NEEDED TO EXAMINE MORE CLOSELY WAYS OF IMPROVING THEIR CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY.

SHE GAVE AS EXAMPLE THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WITH WHICH SHE WAS MOST FAMILIAR, WHICH HAD NOT CONSULTED FULLY WITH SPECIAL SCHOOLS IN UPDATING THEIR CODE OF AID, PARTICULARLY ON STAFF ESTABLISHMENT AND GRADING OF THE SPECIAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

SHE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO RE-EXAMINE THE GRADING TO SAVE PUBLIC MONEY AND CREATE BETTER PROMOTION PROSPECTS FOR THE CERTIFICATED TEACHERS WHO WERE SPECIALLY NEEDED IN THESE SCHOOLS.

REV. BENNETT WELCOMED THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME WHICH SHE FELT WOULD INDIRECTLY HELP STUDENTS OF INFIRM PARENTS AND WIDOWS. SHE SAW THE NEED FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN CAREER COUNSELLING FOR HANDICAPPED STUDENTS.

SHE ASKED THAT SERIOUS CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO THE RESTRUCTURING OF AID TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, AT THE SAME TIME AS THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

IT WAS CLEAR THE GOVERNMENT COULD NOT CARRY OUT ALL THE MANY SOCIAL SERVICES WITHOUT THEM. +THEY HAVE BEEN HAMPERED BY NOT KNOWING EACH YEAR WHETHER OR NOT THEIR ESTIMATED INCOME FROM GOVERNMENT SOURCES WILL IN FACT BE AVAILABLE,+ SHE SAID.

SHE SUGGESTED, FOR THE AGENCIES, A SYSTEM SIMILAR TO THE CODE OF AID FOR VOLUNTARY SCHOOLS WHICH CLEARLY LAID DOWN THEIR OBLIGATIONS AND THE AMOUNTS THEY WOULD RECEIVE FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

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