XN000022-1979-04-25 — Page 20

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 1979

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WITH THE ADVENT OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND SOPHISTICATED UTILISATION OF MATERIALS, BUILDING SERVICES NOW FORM AN IMPORTANT INTEGRAL PART OF A BUILDING, HE ADDED.

ALTHOUGH CONTRACTORS FOR BUILDING SERVICES WORKS ARE REQUIRED TO BE REGISTERED, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE IR SERVICE IS ADEQUATELY DESIGNED. SINCE THE CONTRACTOR HAS A VESTED INTEREST

IN THE SUPPLY OF EQUIPMENT, THE LESS ETHICAL ONES MAY EVEN SACR IF ICE QUALITY IN ORDER TO SECURE THE BUSINESS, + HE SAID.

HE THEREFORE SUGGESTED SETTING UP A STATUTORY REGISTER OF PERSONS RECOGNISED AS +BUILDING SERVICE ENGINEERS+ IN THE IR RESPECTIVE AREAS OF EXPERTISE, SIMILAR TO THE REGISTER OF +AUTHOR ISED PERSONS+ AND +REGISTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS.+

RECORDS HELP IDENTIFY SCHOOL DROP-OUTS

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THE SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACEMENT AND ALLOCATION RECORDS SHOULD ENABLE THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY SCHOOL DROP-OUTS, THE HON. KENNETH TOPLEY, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

HE WAS MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE EDUCATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979 WHICH SEEKS TO EXTEND THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION'S POWER TO ENFORCE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE OF CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF SIX TO 15.

FROM THIS SEPTEMBER IT WILL COVER CHILDREN AGED 14 AND BELOW AND EXTENDED TO 15 IN SEPTEMBER, 1980.

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE REGIONALISATION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE SETTING UP OF THE STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICER SCHEME BY THE DEPARTMENT HAD ALSO ASSISTED IN DETECTING CASES OF NON-ATTENDANCE, MR. TOPLEY SAID.

+ THE APPOINTMENT OF STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICERS BEGAN IN 1978 AND WHEN FULLY IMPLEMENTED IN 1980 THE SCHEME SHOULD ADMINISTER SATISFACTORILY COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE AT THE PRIMARY LEVEL, AND MAY BE EXTENDED EVENTUALLY TO THE JUNIOR SECONDARY FORMS, HE SAID.

THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION'S AUTHORITY TO ISSUE A SCHOOL ATTENDANCE ORDER WOULD CONTINUE TO BE DISCRETIONARY AND BE CONFINED TO CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE IT APPEARED TO HIM THAT THE PARENT WAS WITHHOLDING THE CHILD FROM ATTENDING PRIMARY OR SECONDARY SCHOOL WITHOUT REASONABLE EXCUSE.

+THE PARENT ON WHOM AN ATTENDANCE ORDER IS ISSUED RETAINS, AS UNDER THE PRESENT EDUCATION ORDINANCE, A RIGHT OF APPEAL TO THE BOARD OF REVIEW. PROCEDURE ON APPEAL REMAINS UNCHANGED, MR. TOPLEY ADDED.

/HOWEVER,

+

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