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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1979

COMMUNITY SHOULD PROVIDE FOR THE HANDICAPPED

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THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY SHOULD REALISE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE HANDICAPPED AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE EDUCATION WHICH THEY SHOULD HAVE, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE 10 OUTSTANDING YOUNG PERSONS 1979 PRESENTATION CEREMONY ORGANISED BY THE KOWLOON JAYCEES.

SPEAKING ON THE REHABILITATION PLAN OF THE HANDICAPPED,

MR. TOPLEY SAID THE GREATEST DIFFICULTY ENCOUNTERED IN THIS FIELD WAS IN CONNECTION WITH THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO SCHOOLING AND THE FOLLOW THROUGH INTO ADULT LIFE.

AFTER IDENTIFYING THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, HE SAID, THOSE WHO ARE SUITABLE WOULD BE SENT TO SPECIAL SCHOOLS.

A LARGE NUMBER OF THESE CHILDREN WHO CAN BE CLASSIFIED AS SLOW LEARNERS ARE CAPABLE OF ATTENDING AND SHOULD ATTEND ORDINARY SCHOOLS WHERE THEY CAN MINGLE WITH OTHER CHILDREN, MR. TOPLEY SAID.

+WE ARE ABLE TO TRAIN TEACHERS TO TEACH THE SLOW LEARNERS AND WE ARE DEVELOPING OUR FACILITIES SO AS TO IMPROVE AND EXTEND OUR TRAINING PROGRAMME,+ HE SAID.

HOWEVER, THE DIRECTOR NOTED THAT SOME ORDINARY SCHOOLS

WERE NOT WILLING TO TAKE IN SLOW LEARNING STUDENTS FOR FEAR OF AFFECTING THEIR ACADEMIC RECORD, AND SAID IT IS ONLY WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO FACE OUR PROBLEMS TOGETHER THAT WE SHALL BE ABLE TO MEET THEM IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY.+

+COMPULSION IS NOT THE BEST SOLUTION, HE ADDED.

+HONG KONG AS A COMMUNITY SHOULD COME TO A BROADER AND

A CLEARER REALISATION OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THOSE WHO ARE A BIT LESS WELL-ADAPTED TO SURVIVAL IN OUR COMPETITIVE SOCIETY AND THAT THIS REQUIRES US THEREFORE TO PUT OURSELVES TO SOME DISCOMFORT IN ORDER THAT THEY CAN RECEIVE THE EDUCATION WHICH THEY OUGHT TO HAVE, MR. TOPLEY SAID.

HE ALSO CAUTIONED THAT IF WE DID NOT MEET OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE SLOW LEARNERS IT COULD LEAD TO TROUBLE IN THE FUTURE.

+I DO HOPE THAT ALL SCHOOL SPONSORS WILL POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES VERY CAREFULLY,

CONSIDER THE IR

MR. TOPLEY SAID.

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