XN000022-1977-10-27 — Page 6

UN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1977

COMPULSORY FREE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION MOVE HA ILED

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THE PROVISION OF COMPULSORY FREE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION WILL BE A MILESTONE FOR SOCIAL PROGRESS IN HONG KONG, ALTHOUGH OBSTACLES TO ITS IMPLEMENTATION, SUCH AS ECONOMIC PRESSURE ON CERTAIN FAMILIES AND DIFFICULTIES IN ENFORCING SUCH A LEGISLATION, MUST FIRST BE OVERCOME, DR. THE HON. RAYSON HUANG SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL POLICY DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DR. HUANG SAID THE MAJORITY OF PRIMARY SIX PUPILS IN HONG KONG ARE AGED 13 CR ABOVE WHILE ONLY ABOUT 10 PER CENT ARE BELOW THE AGE OF 12.

COMPULSORY EDUCATION DEFINED IN RELATION TO AGE (12 TO 15) WOULD THEREFORE GUARANTEE COMPLETION OF FORM 111 FOR NOT MORE THAN 10 PER CENT OF EACH PRIMARY SIX COHORT, HE SAID.

HE SUGGESTED THAT THE WORKING PARTY NOW REVIEWING PRIMARY EDUCATION MIGHT LOOK INTO THIS QUESTION.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT EDUCATION RECEIVED BY ALL CHILDREN BE OF A PROPER STANDARD, DR. HUANG CONTINUED.

IF IT IS A MATTER OF FINANCE THAT SOME SCHOOLS DO NOT HAVE WELL-QUALIFIED TEACHERS OR ADEQUATE FACILITIES, IT WOULD BE BETTER TO CONTINUE CHARGING FEES FOR THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD IT, AND DEPLOY THE FUNDS THUS COLLECTED TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OFFERED IN THESE SCHOOLS.

HE SAID THERE IS NEED TO FORMULATE A CORE SYLLABUS FOR THE JUNIOR SECONDARY CURRICULUM WHICH WOULD STRESS BASIC AND NECESSARY SKILLS (INCLUDING THE USE OF LANGUAGES), CONCEPTS, JUDGMENTS AND ATTITUDES, LEAVING THE REST OF THE CURRICULUM TO BE DESIGNED BY INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS TO SUIT THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE IR PUPILS.

THE CURRICULUM SHOULD NOT BE FORMULATED WITH ONLY THE ACADEMICALLY ORIENTATED IN MIND, BUT SHOULD BE ADAPTABLE TO THE DIFFERENT NEEDS OF THE PUPILS, 60 PER CENT OF WHOM DO NOT PROCEED TO FORM IV.

THERE SHOULD ALSO BE SCOPE FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF SECONDARY EDUCATION TO EMERGE, E.G., PART-TIME SCHOOL ING.

HE HOPED THAT WHEN FURTHER PLANS BEYOND THE FORM HIT LEVEL ARE MADE IN FUTURE, A DIVERSIFIED SYSTEM OF EDUCATION, PROVIDING TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL AS WELL AS ACADEMIC, PART-TIME AS WELL AS FULL-TIME SCHOOL ING, WILL BE CONSIDERED.

/NO INDIVIDUAL