XN000022-1979-06-17 — Page 3

SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 1979

CHALLENGING JOB OFFERED TO GOVT

PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS

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AN OPPORTUNITY IS NOW OPEN TO GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS TO TAKE UP THE CHALLENGING ROLE OF PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND HELP TO CHILDREN WITH EDUCATIONAL, EMOTIONAL OR PERSONAL PROBLEMS.

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS RECRUITING SCHOOL TEACHERS AS STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICERS AS PART OF A SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK PROGRAMME.

IT IS HOPING TO ATTRACT SERVING TEACHERS IN GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS. THE DEPARTMENT HAS RECENTLY ISSUED A CIRCULAR DRAWING THE ATTENTION OF INTERESTED TEACHERS TO THE RECRUITMENT EXERCISE WHICH WILL CLOSE ON JUNE 22.

+THESE OFFICERS MUST HAVE PATIENCE AND THEY MUST BE TACTFUL AND TOLERANT TO GAIN THE TRUST OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS TO CARRY OUT THEIR WORK. THEY MAY HAVE TO ACT AS ADVISERS, CONFESSORS AND MEDIATORS IN ADDITION TO THEIR ROLE AS GUIDANCE OFFICERS,+ SAID MRS. FONTAINE TSUI, INSPECTOR (SERVICES) IN CHARGE OF THE STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICER SCHEME.

THE JOB WILL BE DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF TEACHING BUT WILL STILL BE STRONGLY ASSOCIATED WITH EDUCATION.

+AS A TEACHER YOU HAVE NOT THE TIME TO SPARE FOR AN IN-DEPTH STUDY OF A PROBLEM CHILD AND YOU OFTEN WONDER WHAT WAS THE CAUSE. AS A STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICER, YOUR JOB IS TO FIND OUT AND THIS AT TIMES CAN BE MOST CHALLENGING AND DEMANDING,+ MRS. TSUI SA ID.

THE SGO SCHEME WAS INITIATED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR AND THE FIRST GROUP OF 78 OFFICERS, AFTER A THREE-MONTH TRAINING PROGRAMME, STARTED WORK IN DECEMBER TO OFFER GUIDANCE TO 200,000 STUDENTS IN 350 PRIMARY SCHOOLS.

THE DEPARTMENT IS HOPING TO RECRUIT ANOTHER 100 PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS THIS YEAR TO EXPAND ITS SERVICE. SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE GIVEN A THREE-MONTH TRAINING COURSE AT THE END OF WHICH THEY WILL COMMENCE WORK IN THE FIELD.

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