XN000022-1979-07-20 — Page 12

FRIDAY, JULY 20, 1979

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SWEEPING IMPROVEMENTS FOR F.M.0. SCHOOLS

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SWEEPING CHANGES TO FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION SCHOOLS. INCLUDING A NEW SCHOOL, EXTENDED COURSES AND A SECONDARY SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP FUND, WERE ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MR. TED NICHOLS.

AT THE F.M.O. SUMMER SCHOOL CAMP AT WU KAI SHA, MR. NICHOLS TOLD STUDENTS AND TEACHERS THAT 1979 WOULD GO DOWN AS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE IN THE EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF THE ORGANISATION.

+LATER THIS YEAR,+ HE SAID, IT IS OUR HOPE AND INTENTION TO OPEN THE 14TH PRIMARY SCHOOL OF 24 CLASSROOMS AT AP LEI CHAU, PRIMARILY FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE FISHING FLEET.+

WHEN FULLY OPERATIONAL, IT IS EXPECTED TO ACCOMMODATE ABOUT 2,000 STUDENTS.

THE OPENING OF THE NEW SCHOOL WOULD INITIALLY BE STARTED WITH THE TRANSFER OF PUPILS FROM THE ABERDEEN F.M.O. PRIMARY SCHOOL.

AND WITH THE EXTRA SPACE AVAILABLE AT ABERDEEN THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR ROOM FOR THE CONVERSION OF THE F.M.O. SECONDARY PRACTICAL SCHOOL FROM A THREE-YEAR TO A FIVE-YEAR COURSE OF STUDY.

ACCORDING TO MR. NICHOLS, THIS WOULD BE THE REALISATION OF

A DREAM WHICH MANY OF US HAVE HAD FOR MANY YEARS.+

HE ADDED THAT THESE PLANS WOULD NOT ONLY FURTHER THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNTIES OF THE CHILDREN, BUT ALSO PROVIDE GREATER CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE TEACHING STAFF.

MR. NICHOLS ALSO ANNOUNCED THE INTRODUCTION OF A SECONDARY SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP FUND WHICH WOULD ASSIST FISHERMEN'S CHILDREN THROUGH THE THREE FINAL YEARS FORMS 4 TO 6 - OF SECONDARY SCHOOLING.

+THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THIS FUND IS TO ASSIST THOSE BRIGHT, INTELLIGENT AND DESERVING FISHERMEN'S CHILDREN WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE PREVENTED THROUGH FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, TO CONTINUE THE IR SECONDARY EDUCATION, HE SAID.

APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL F.M.O. SCHOOLS, FISH MARKETS AND DEPOTS AND MR. NICHOLS SAID PARENTS AND CHILDREN WERE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SCHOLARSHIP FUND.