XN000022-1980-06-25 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1980

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SHE NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NOW IN HONG KONG A FEW SPECIALISTS TRAINED IN THE CARE OF THE PRE-SCHOOL CHILD, THE GREEN PAPER DOES NOT ENVISAGE RECRUITING THEM FOR ITS TRAINING PROGRAMMES.

ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE GREEN PAPER THAT DREW THE ATTENTION OF THE AD HOC GROUP CONCERNS FINANCIAL AID TO KINDERGARTENS.

+THE DEMAND FOR FULL GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT WITH SUBSIDIES TO KINDERGARTENS HAS BEEN REJECTED.

+ INSTEAD, EVEN THE PRESENT METHOD OF SUBSIDY TO CHILD CARE CENTRES WILL BE RADICALLY REVISED, SO THAT THE CHILDREN IN THEM OR IN KINDERGARTENS CAN BE ASSISTED AFTER THE FAMILY HAS BEEN MEANS-TESTED.+

SHE NOTED THAT THE PROPOSALS ON SPACE AND STUDENT-TEACHER RATIO WILL REDUCE THE NUMBERS IN KINDERGARTEN CLASSES AND NATURALLY THE FEES WILL HAVE TO BE RAISED IN ORDER TO MEET THE BUDGETED EXPENSES.

FURTHERMORE, THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO CONTINUE ITS POLICY OF LETTING KINDERGARTEN PREMISES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES BY TENDER.

+WHY MUST WE ENCOURAGE EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS TO BE PROF IT-MAKING AND CHARGE THE HIGHEST FEES THAT THE MARKET CAN BEAR?+ SHE ASKED.

SHE HOPED THAT A LONG HARD LOOK WILL BE TAKEN TO IMPROVE THESE ASPECTS OF THE GREEN PAPER.

MISS BENNETT PAID TRIBUTE TO THE AUTHORS OF THE GREEN PAPER ON THE DECISION TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF PRIMARY EDUCATION BY PROMOTING THE LEARNING BY DOING+ EDUCATIONAL METHOD.

SHE WAS ALSO PLEASED TO NOTE THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF LIBRARIES AND THE IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT.

BUT SHE THOUGHT THAT NOT ENOUGH CONSIDERATION HAD BEEN GIVEN TO IMPROVE THE ACTUAL TEACHING IN THOSE SCHOOLS WHERE TEACHERS DARE TO COMPLAIN THEY +SELDOM SEE A BRIGHT PUPIL+,

+THE SOONER HONG KONG'S EDUCATIONALISTS RECOGNISE THAT THE SIX YEAR OLD PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILD HAS TREMENDOUS INNATE POTENTIAL THE BETTER.

+NONE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED USELESS AND UNWORTHY OF A CERTAIN SCHOOL, SHE ADDED.

FOUR OTHER UNOFFICIALS ALSO SPOKE ON THE GREEN PAPER DURING DEBATE ON THE MOTION.

DR THE HON HENRY HU DISAGREED WITH THE GREEN PAPER'S PROPOSAL THAT THE STAFF QUALIFICATION FOR CHILD CENTRES SHOULD BE FORM 3, PLUS TWO YEARS' PRE-SERVICE TRAINING.

HE ARGUED IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, WHEN WE DEAL WITH MACHINES OR TOOLS, A BASIC EDUCATION OF FORM 3 PLUS SOME SPECIAL TRAINING WOULD BE SUFFICIENT, BUT IN THE CASE OF CHILD CARE CENTRES, THE HUMAN ELEMENT IS INVOLVED.

+ SHOULD THEREFORE THINK THAT THE BASIC EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION SHOULD BE FORM 5 INSTEAD OF FORM 3.

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