XN000022-1977-12-24 — Page 3

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1977

EXPANSION OF SCREENING SERVICES TO PUPILS

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THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS EXPANDING ITS SERVICES TO PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS UNDER A PROGRAMME RECOMMENDED IN THE WHITE PAPER ON REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT,

AS FROM THIS ACADEMIC YEAR, AUDIOMETRIC VISION AND SPEECH SCREENING AND GROUP TESTING SERVICES ARE GRADUALLY EXPANDED TO COVER ALL PRIMARY SCHOOLS. ABOUT 175,000 CHILDREN WILL RECEIVE THESE SERVICES THIS YEAR.

MR. K.H. CHAN, PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR (SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES) OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT DESCRIBED THESE SCREENING SERVICES AS MOST BENEFICIAL TO SCHOOL CHILDREN.

HE SAID: +THEY ARE AIMED AT IDENTIFYING PUPILS WITH SPEECH, HEARING AND VISION IMPAIRMENT, LEARNING DIFFICULTIES AND BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS SO THAT REMEDIAL STEPS CAN BE TAKEN AT AN EARLY STAGE BEFORE PROBLEMS DEVELOP INTO EDUCATIONAL HANDICAPS FOR THE CHILD.

+VISION AND HEARING TESTS ARE GIVEN TO PRIMARY 1 CHILDREN. SPEECH SCREENING IS CONDUCTED IN PRIMARY 3 TO IDENTIFY CHILDREN WHOSE SPEECH IS NOT FULLY DEVELOPED AT THE AGE OF 8 OR 9. GROUP TESTS ARE GIVEN TO PRIMARY 1 AND ALSO TO PRIMARY 3 CHILDREN TO IDENTIFY THEIR LEARNING DIFFICULTIES AND BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS,

+OFFICERS OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, SPECIALLY TRAINED FOR SUCH WORK, WILL VISIT PRIMARY SCHOOLS WITH TESTING EQUIPMENT. CHILDREN WHO ARE SUSPECTED OF HAVING PROBLEMS WILL BE GIVEN A MORE DETAILED INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT AT THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES CENTRES, HE ADDED.

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