XN000022-1978-09-28 — Page 7

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1973

IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK SERVICE STRESSED

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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, TODAY STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK SERVICE IN HELPING STUDENTS TO PREVENT OR OVERCOME THEIR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS.

SPEAKING AT THE 10TH GRADUATION CEREMONY OF JU CHING CHU ENGLISH COLLEGE AT THE CITY HALL, MR. LEE SAID IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT STUDENTS WERE PROPERLY GUIDED IN THEIR EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOUR DURING THE IR FORMATIVE YEARS IN SCHOOL.

HE POINTED OUT THAT PROBLEMS NOW ENCOUNTERED BY YOUNG PEOPLE DURING THEIR SCHOOL LIFE WERE NO LONGER CONFINED TO LEARNING.

+FROM TIME TO TIME DURING THEIR PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL GROWTH, STUDENTS MAY DEVELOP EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL OR OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH CAN JEOPARDISE THEIR EDUCATION AND GENERAL DEVELOPMENT,+ HE SAID.

MR. LEE SAID THAT SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK WAS DESIGNED TO HELP THEN OVERCOME SUCH PROBLEMS, TO MAKE THE MAXIMUM USE OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY, TO DEVELOP THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL AND TO PREPARE THEM FOR RESPONSIBLE ADULT LIVING.

SERVICES ON SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK, HE SAID, WERE INTRODUCED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AS A JOINT EXPERIMENTAL VENTURE IN 1974, STARTING IN FIVE SCHOOLS.

+TODAY, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS A STRENGTH OF 17 FULL- TIME PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDING SUCH SERVICES IN 85 SCHOOLS,+ HE SAID.

FURTHER EXPANSION IN THIS FIELD HAD BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE GREEN PAPER ON PERSONAL SOCIAL WORK AMONG YOUTH, WHICH

PROPOSED THAT THE SERVICE SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO ALL SCHOOLS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, HE ADDED.

MR. LEE SAID THAT UNDER THESE PROPOSALS, SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS WOULD BE PROVIDED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHILE THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICERS WOULD SERVE PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK, HE SAID, TOOK THE FORM OF PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL WORK AND REQUIRED CLOSE CO-OPERATION AMONG THE SOCIAL WORKERS, TEACHING STAFF AND PARENTS.

THROUGH GUIDANCE ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION, HUMAN RELATIONSHIP AND STUDENT LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES, SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS HELPED PREVENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS AMONG STUDENTS, HE SAID.

IN REMEDIAL SERVICE, HE ADDED, THEY IDENTIFIED AND TACKLED STUDENTS' PROBLEMS WHICH HAD DEVELOPED FOR WHATEVER REASONS.

MR. LEE SAID STUDENTS WITH PROBLEMS COULD SEEK ASSISTANCE EITHER FROM THE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS EASED IN THEIR SCHOOLS, OR FROM THE DEPARTMENT'S FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES LOCATED NEAR THE IR DISTRICT.

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