XN000022-1980-08-12 — Page 9

TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1980

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SCHOOLS URGED TO PROVIDE CAREERS SERVICE

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SECONDARY SCHOOLS SHOULD MAKE AN EFFORT TO APPOINT A SERVING TEACHER TO TAKE ON THE ROLE OF CAREERS MASTER OR MISTRESS TO PROVIDE VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL GUIDANCE TO THEIR STUDENTS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

SOME 300 SECONDARY SCHOOLS, HE NOTED, WERE ALREADY PROVIDING SUCH A SERVICE AND IT WAS HOPED THAT SCHOOL HEADS WOULD CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE THIS IMPORTANT WORK.

+THOSE SCHOOLS WHICH HAVE YET TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE ARE ADVISED TO CONSIDER IT SERIOUSLY IN THE INTEREST OF THEIR STUDENTS, + THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

A TEACHER APPOINTED AS A CAREERS MASTER OR MISTRESS SHOULD BE ONE IN FREQUENT CONTACT WITH STUDENTS IN THE UPPER FORMS AND WHO SHOWS A GENUINE INTEREST IN THE WELL BEING OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

SUCH A TEACHER SHOULD BE ALLOTTED A FEW ADDITIONAL NON-TEACHING PERIODS A WEEK TO ENABLE INTERVIEWS WITH INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS, TO COMPILE STUDENTS' CONFIDENTIAL REPORTS, TO FILE CAREERS LITERATURE AND INFORMATION AND TO ORGANISE CAREERS ACTIVITIES WITH THE AIM OF FAMILIARISING STUDENTS WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF CAREERS AND DIFFERENT AVENUES OF STUDY AND TRAINING.

THE TEACHER SHOULD ALSO JOIN THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF CAREERS MASTERS, AN ORGANISATION RESPONSIBLE FOR PROMOTING CAREERS WORK IN SCHOOL.

+EVERY YEAR THE ASSOCIATION ORGANISES SEMINARS, TALKS AND VISITS TO BRING MEMBERS UP-TO-DATE WITH VALUABLE INFORMATION ON EDUCATION AND OCCUPATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.

+TEACHERS APPOINTED AS CAREERS MASTERS OR MISTRESSES SHOULD THEREFORE, MAKE AN EFFORT TO ATTEND THESE ACTIVITIES, THE SPOKESMAN

SAID.

SCHOOLS SEEKING FURTHER INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT THE CAREERS OFFICER OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, WHO IS ALSO SECRETARY OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF CAREERS MASTERS, TEL 5-778311 EXT 239.

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