XN000022-1978-08-02 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1978

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MR. TOPLEY SAID BOTH MR. Q.W. LEE AND DR. HUANG HAD STRESSED THE NEED TO ENSURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF TEACHERS TO MEET OUR SECONDARY EDUCATION EXPANSION.

+ THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS RECENTLY COMPLETED A VERY THOROUGH SURVEY OF NON-GRADUATE TEACHER REQUIREMENT UP TO 1987 AND THE PROJECTIONS FROM THIS ARE BEING USED IN OUR FORWARD PLANNING FOR THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION, HE SAID, +A SIMILAR SURVEY IS BEING UNDERTAKEN FOR GRADUATE TEACHERS WHICH, I HOPE, WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE AUTUMN. I WILL THEN CONSULT THE TWO SCHOOLS OF EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITIES.+

MR. TOPLEY SAID THE MAIN TASK, OF WORKING PARTIES REVIEWING NON-GRADUATE FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAMMES WAS THE CONTENT OF THE TRAINING COURSES IN WHICH SCHOOL

ADMINISTRATION AND STUDENT GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING WOULD BE TOPICS OF INCREASING IMPORTANCE.

MR. TOPLEY ALSO ASSURED MR. ALEX WU THAT CULTURAL SUBJECTS WOULD RECEIVE THOROUGH TREATMENT IN THE REVIEW.

+FROM HIS REMARKS, HOWEVER, I AM CONCERNED THAT MR. WU UNDER-ESTIMATES THE ATTENTION AT PRESENT GIVEN TO CULTURAL SUBJECTS, IN PARTICULAR MUSIC, IN OUR COLLEGES OF EDUCATION, HE SAID.

+ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO SPEND SOME TIME EACH WEEK IN CULTURAL ACTIVITIES TO HELP EXTEND THEIR OUTLOOK AND INTERESTS. MUSIC IN THIS CONTEXT IS AN ACTIVITY AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS OTHER THAN THOSE WHO HAVE ELECTED TO STUDY MUSIC WITH A VIEW TO TEACHING MUSIC IN SCHOOLS.

+THOSE WISHING TO TEACH MUSIC IN SCHOOLS UNDERGO A” FULL, PROPERLY-STRUCTURED COURSE IN JUST THE SAME WAY AS THOSE STUDYING ANY OTHER TEACHING SUBJECT IN THE CURRICULUM.+

TURNIG TO A SUGGESTION MADE BY MR. JAMES WU THAT THE TECHNICAL TEACHERS' COLLEGE SHOULD TAKE INTO ITS COURSES HIGHER CERTIFICATE OR HIGHER DIPLOMA HOLDERS FROM THE POLYTECHNIC IN AN EFFORT TO RAISE THE STANDARD OF TEACHERS OF TECHNICAL SUBJECTS, MR. TOPLEY SAID: +EVER SINCE THE TECHNICAL TEACHER COURSES BEGAN

IN 1969, WE HAVE BEEN ADMITTING ORDINARY DIPLOMA AND HIGHER CERTIFICATE HOLDERS TO THE ONE-YEAR COURSE.

+THERE ARE, HOWEVER, OTHER APPARENTLY MORE ATTRACTIVE AVENUES OPEN TO THOSE WITH SUCH QUALIFICATIONS. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO ATTRACT HIGHER DIPLOMA HOLDERS.

+TEACHER TRAINING IS UNDOUBTEDLY ONE OF THE KEY AREAS IN THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE SECURE A WELL-TRAINED, WELL-MOTIVATED TEACHING FORCE TO STAFF OUR SCHOOLS. THIS WILL ONLY BE ACHIEVED THROUGH AN ATTRACTIVE CAREER STRUCTURE AND A RESPECTED PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY FOR OUR TEACHERS.+

İMR. TOPLEY SAID ALTHOUGH