XN000022-1978-01-19 — Page 2

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 1978

HK NEEDS MASSIVE EXPANSION OF EDUCATION SAYS GOVERNOR

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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE SAID TODAY HONG KONG NOW NEEDS A MASSIVE EXPANSION OF EDUCATION QUICKLY WHICH IS BOTH SOCIALLY RIGHT AND ECONOMICALLY IMPERATIVE.

+TO SUCCEED, WE ALSO NEED TO WORK FOR A GOOD BALANCE BETWEEN ACADEMIC AND PRACTICAL EDUCATION IN OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS,+ SIR MURRAY SAID AT THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION OF THE DIOCESAN” GIRLS' SCHOOL.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE GREAT CHALLENGE FOR EDUCATION IN THE YEARS AHEAD IS THE SETTING OF SOLIDLY PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS THAT CAN AND MUST BE ATTAINED BY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PUPILS AND THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS FROM AVERAGE BACKGROUNDS.+

+THANKS IN LARGE PART TO THE EFFORTS OF SCHOOL AND VOLUNTARY BODIES SUCH AS YOURS, HONG KONG HAS AN ENVIABLE RECORD IN EDUCATION AND A FIRM BASIS ON WHICH TO BE BUILT, + SIR MURRAY SAID,

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH AT THE CENTENARY CELEBRATION OF THE DIOCESAN GIRLS' SCHOOL:

+ I AM HONOURED TO HAVE BEEN INVITED TO THE CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS OF YOUR SCHOOL AS A GRANT-IN-AID SCHOOL AND TO OPEN THE EXHIBITION WHICH IS BEING PREPARED BY THE GIRLS. ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF CONGENIAL CO-OPERATION WITH GOVERNMENT CERTAINLY IS AN OCCASION WORTH CELEBRATING, AND I OFFER THE SCHOOL AND EVERYONE CONNECTED WITH IT MY WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES.

+ONE OF THE EXCITING THINGS ABOUT HONG KONG IS THAT THE UNAVOID- ABLE DEFICIENCIES OF YESTERDAY, AND THE INSISTENT DEMANDS OF TOMORROW REQUIRE US ALWAYS TO BE IN A HURRY TODAY. WE MUST LIVE - EXHILARATINGLY UNDER PRESSURE, AND IN A STATE OF PROGRESS AND CHANGE. IMMOBILITY OF THOUGHT OR STRUCTURE MAY NOT BE WRONG BUT SHOULD CONSTANTLY BE QUESTIONED THAT IS WHAT EDUCATION IS ALL ABOUT AND I AM SURE THAT NOT EVEN SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTION AS THE DIOCESAN GIRLS' SCHOOL WOULD WISH TO REST ON ITS LAURELS.

+WE HAVE ENTERED AN ERA OF SECONDARY EDUCATION WITHOUT FEES FOR ALL. IT IS OBVIOUSLY HIGHLY DESIRABLE, BUT LESS OBVIOUSLY IT DOES INVOLVE COMPLICATIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS.

+ I LOOK TO SCHOOLS SUCH AS THE DIOCESAN GIRLS' SCHOOL AND BODIES SUCH AS THE SHENG KUNG HUI TO PLUNGE INTO THIS NEW AND DEMANDING ENTERPRISE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH THE REST OF THE EDUCATIONAL COMMUNITY.

+ IN PARTICULAR I LOOK FOR THE SETTING OF STANDARDS I DO NOT MEAN THE KIND OF STANDARDS THAT CAN ONLY BE ATTAINED BY A COMBINATION OF EXCEPTIONALLY GIFTED TEACHERS AND OUTSTANDINGLY ABLE PUPILS FROM WEALTHY AND SCHOLARLY HOMES I MEAN SOLIDLY PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS THAT CAN AND MUST BE ATTAINED BY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PUPILS AND THOUSANDS OF TEACHERS FROM AVERAGE BACKGROUNDS.

THIS IS THE GREAT

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