XN000022-1978-07-08 — Page 6

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SATURDAY, JULY 8, 1978

CALL FOR NEW WAYS OF DEVELOPING SCHOOL CURRICULA

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THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS) MR. ARTHUR BROWN, TODAY CALLED FOR NEW METHODS OF DEVELOPING SCHOOL CURRICULA IN VIEW OF SO MANY CHANGES TAKING PLACE IN THE STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION.

SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION FOR SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION, MR. BROWN SAID THERE WERE A NUMBER OF WAYS OF DEVELOPING A CURRICULUM, AND THE METHODS CHOSEN FOR HONG KONG HAD BEEN LARGELY DICTATED BY CIRCUMSTANCES.

INCLUDING

HE OUTLINED THE HIGHLIGHTS OF CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN MATHEMATICS, THE INTRODUCTION OF ECONOMIC AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, AND THE INTEGRATED SCIENCE PROJECT.

HE EXPLAINED HOW IN A BIG STEP FORWARD SHORTLY AFTER ITS FORMATION, THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE DEVISED A COMPLETELY NEW CURRICUMLUM FOR FORMS 1 TO 11.

MR. BROWN ALSO DISCUSSED CURRENT PRIORITIES IN CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND FELT THAT THE GREATEST NEEDS WERE IN LANGUAGE TEACH- ING IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND IN JUNIOR SECONDARY CURRICULA SPECIALLY SUITABLE FOR LESS ABLE CHILDREN.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE AIDED SECTOR HAD LIMITED EXPERIENCE IN TEACHING LESS ABLE CHILDREN. THE NEXT PRIORITY WAS FOR BROADENING

THE FORM IV-VI CURRICULUM.

MR. BROWN LOOKED AT A NUMBER OF POSSIBLE WAYS OF IMPROVING CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT. HE SUGGESTED THAT SUBJECT COMMITTEES MADE UP OF GROUPS OF TEACHERS FROM SCHOOLS COMMITTED TO CHANGE SHOULD WORK OUT A NEW CURRICULUM AMONG THEMSELVES AND APPLY IT TO THEIR OWN SCHOOLS ON A PILOT BASIS, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF MEMBERS FROM COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ACTING PRIMARILY

IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY.

MR. BROWN ALSO DISCUSSED THE NEED FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN SOME AREAS, BUT POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE MANY DEMANDS FOR FUNDS AND MUCH COULD BE DONE WITH RELATIVELY LIMITED RESOURCES.

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