XN000022-1980-03-22 — Page 6

SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 1980

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GOOD EDUCATION PROSPECTS FOR FISHERMEN'S CHILDREN

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THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MR JOHN RIDDELL- SWAN PREDICTED TODAY THAT THE STANDARD OF EDUCATION AMONG FISHERMEN'S CHILDREN WILL +MARKEDLY IMPROVE.+

AT AN ANNUAL FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION SCHOOL'S LUNCHEON MR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID THE FUTURE OF THE FISHING COMMUNITY IS TO A GREAT EXTENT IN THE HANDS OF THE FMO TEACHERS +AS ITS DESTINY DEPENDS HEAVILY UPON THE PROVISION OF A SOUND EDUCATION FOR THE CHILDREN WHO WILL IN TIME BE ITS MEMBERS AND LEADERS.+

MR RIDDELL-SWAN PAID TRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FMO SCHOOLS BY FORMER DIRECTOR, MR TED NICHOLS, AND SPOKE OF THE SCHOOLS' IMPROVEMENT TO THE EDUCATION OF THE FISHING COMMUNITY DURING THE PAST 35 YEARS.

BUT HE ADDED +WE MUST, HOWEVER, MAINTAIN OUR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE ACADEMIC STANDARDS OF OUR STUDENTS.+

TO THIS END, HE SAID, THE SECONDARY SCHOOL AT ABERDEEN EXTENDED ITS COURSE TO FIVE YEARS AND SCHOLARSHIPS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO ENABLE FISHERMEN'S CHILDREN TO CONTINUE TO ATTEND OTHER SECONDARY SCHOOLS BEYOND THE FORM 3 LEVEL.

+ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS ARE NOW ALSO AVAILABLE TO ALLOW OUTSTANDING STUDENTS, WHO FOR FINANCIAL REASONS MAY BE PRECLUDED FROM FURTHERING THEIR EDUCATION IN UNIVERSITIES AND TERTIARY COLLEGES.

+WITH THESE FACILITIES AND WITH THE PROVISION OF FREE SECONDARY EDUCATION UP TO FORM 3 LEVEL, I FEEL THAT THE STANDARDS OF EDUCATION AMONG FISHERMEN'S CHILDREN WILL MARKEDLY

IMPROVE, SAID MR RIDDELL-SWAN.

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