XN000022-1980-06-25 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1980

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+CERTAINLY THE METHOD HAS MUCH TO COMMEND IT. ESPECIALLY IF WE BELIEVE IN A TOTALITARIAN TYPE OF SOCIETY WITH THE

"VERNMENT CONTROLLING THE INDIVIDUAL.

→HOWEVER I UNDERSTOOD THAT HONG KONG WAS THE HOME OF THOSE WHO VALUED FREE CHOICE AND PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.+

BUT SHE FEARED THAT, HAVING READ THE CHAPTER ON CONTROL OF ENTRY TO PRIMARY SCHOOLS, PARENTS WOULD IN FACT HAVE VERY LITTLE CHOICE OF SCHOOL FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

SHE FELT THAT THE NEW ALLOCATION SYSTEM WHEREBY SCHOOLS COULD RETAIN 15 PER CENT OF THE PLACES AS DISCRETIONARY PLACES WAS FRAUGHT WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR CORRUPTION AND CALLED FOR +VERY SERIOUS RECONSIDERATION OF SO RADICAL A CHANGE IN THE BASIS OF OUR SOCIETY+.

MISS BENNETT POINTED OUT THAT ANOTHER FACTOR WHICH SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED CONCERNED THE GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY, OR INABILITY, TO CHECK THE GENUINENESS OF ADDRESSES GIVEN.

SHE EXPLAINED THAT WITH THE CHINESE EXTENDED FAMILY IT WOULD BE EASY FOR A CHILD TO BE REGISTERED AS LIVING NEAR A SO-CALLED +PRESTIGIOUS+ PRIMARY SCHOOL.

THERE IS A FURTHER VERY REAL DANGER OF AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PRIVATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS TO CATER FOR THE CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS DO NOT WISH THEIR CHILDREN TO BE EDUCATED ALONGSIDE CHILDREN FROM POOR AND ILLITERATE HOMES.

+WE HAVE NOT YET GOT THE FINAL SOLUTION TO PRIMARY SCHOOL ENTRANCE PROCEDURES, + SHE STRESSED.

+I URGE CONSIDERABLY MORE THOUGHT ON THIS ASPECT OF THE GREEN PAPER, SO THAT PARENTAL CHOICE CAN BE ENSURED WITHOUT THE SCHOOLS TESTING THEM OR THEIR CHILDREN BY INTERVIEW OR WRITTEN TEST. +

THE AD HOC GROUP ALSO VIEWED WITH GREAT DISQUIET THE LOWERING OF EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS FOR CHILD CARE WORKERS AND KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS.

ENQUIRIES MADE BY MEMBERS OF THE GROUP REVEALED A DIVERSITY OF COURSES FOR TRAINING THESE YOUNG GIRLS BUT MISS BENNETT STRESSED THAT WHAT HONG KONG NEEDED WAS ONE INSTITUTION AND ONE ALONE WHICH WOULD TRAIN ALL WORKERS FOR PRE-SCHOOL INSTITUTIONS.

+I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE OUTLINES OF THE TWO-YEAR IN-SERVICE TRAINING COURSE FOR KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS.

+MOST OF THIS SHOULD BE APPLICABLE TO ANY IN-SERVICE COURSE FOR CHILD CARE WORKERS,+ SHE ADDED.

BUT SHE WAS ALARMED TO NOTE THAT KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS HAVE TO WAIT YEARS TO GET ON THIS COURSE. AND TO GET ALL THE PRESENT KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS TRAINED AT THE PRESENT SPEED WOULD TAKE 19 YEARS WITHOUT COUNTING NEWCOMERS TO THE KINDERGARTEN PROFESSION DURING THOSE YEARS.

SHE CRITICISED THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FOR THINKING IT FIT TO APPOINT INSPECTORS OF KINDERGARTEN WITH THE BARE MINIMUM OF KINDERGARTEN QUALIFICATIONS AND WITH NO EXPERIENCE IN RUNNING KINDERGARTENS OR TEACHING IN THEM.

/STE MOJA