XN000022-1978-11-26 — Page 3

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1978

TECHNICAL INSTITUTE ACCEPTS HANDICAPPED STUDENTS

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THE MODERN APPROACH OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR THE HANDICAPPED, AS IN OTHER FIELDS OF EDUCATION, IS INTEGRATION, NOT SEGREGATION.

THIS IS THE VIEW OF MR. ROBERT BRAY, PRINCIPAL OF THE HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IN CHEUNG SHA WAN WHICH HAS ACCEPTED SIX MILDLY HANDICAPPED STUDENTS IN ITS PART-TIME EVENING COURSES IN THE CURRENT ACADEMIC YEAR.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT HANDICAPPED STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ENROLLED IN THE INSTITUTE SINCE IT OPENED LAST YEAR.

+IT IS OUR AIM TO PLACE THESE HANDICAPPED STUDENTS IN NORMAL CLASSES WHEREVER POSSIBLE SO THAT THEY WILL HAVE EQUAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES AND BENEFIT FROM INTEGRATING WITH ORDINARY STUDENTS, MR. BRAY SAID.

THE SIX HANDICAPPED, COMPRISING FIVE DEAF AND DUMB, AND ONE WITH AN ARTIFICIAL LEFT ARM, ALL WORK IN FACTORIES DURING DAY TIME.

OF THESE, THREE ARE ENROLLED IN A THREE-YEAR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE SERVICING COURSE, TWO IN A THREE-YEAR COURSE ON CARPENTRY, JOINERY AND CABINET-MAKING, AND THE REMAINING ONE IN A ONE-YEAR WELDING COURSE.

MR. BRAY SAID THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING THESE HANDICAPPED STUDENTS RECEIVE IN THE INSTITUTE WILL COMPLEMENT THEIR IN-SERVICE EXPERIENCE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE INDUSTRIES.

HE ADDED THAT DESPITE THEIR PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS, THESE STUDENTS ARE KEEN ON LEARNING AND MIXING WELL WITH ORDINARY STUDENTS IN THEIR CLASS.

ON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE COURSES, THE HANDICAPPED STUDENTS, LIKE THEIR NORMAL COUNTERPARTS, WILL EACH RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CRAFT.

+ IF THEY DO WELL IN THE COURSE THEY MAY RECEIVE FURTHER TRAINING TO BECOME TECHNICIANS IN THEIR OWN FIELD OF WORK, + MR. BRAY SAID.

HE SAID THE INSTITUTE IS PREPARED TO ACCEPT MORE HANDICAPPED STUDENTS AND URGED EMPLOYERS TO RELEASE OR SPONSOR THEIR HANDICAPPED EMPLOYEES TO THE COURSES.

+ IF AN EMPLOYER FEELS THAT TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THROUGH EDUCATION ARE USEFUL TO HIS EMPLOYEES, THEN THE INSTITUTE WILL ACCEPT THEM AS STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF THE IR PHYSICAL DISABILITIES,+ MR. BRAY SAID.

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