XN000022-1980-08-22 — Page 3

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 1980

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GRAMMAR SCHOOLS URGED TO TEACH PRACTICAL SUBJECTS

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THE ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS), MRS LOUISE MOK TODAY CALLED ON ALL GRAMMAR SCHOOLS TO INCORPORATE A FEW TECHNICAL AND PRACTICAL SUBJECTS INTO THEIR CURRICULUM TO PREPARE THEIR STUDENTS FOR LIFE IN HONG KONG'S RAPIDLY GROWING COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY.

MRS MOK WAS SPEAKING ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PRACTICAL AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS IN THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON NORTH.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT EVEN TODAY MANY STUDENTS NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO LEARN A PRACTICAL OR TECHNICAL SUBJECT IN SCHOOL AND THEREFORE COULD NOT APPRECIATE THE SIGNIFICANCE SUCH SUBJECTS CARRY,

OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, MRS MOK SAID, SHOULD BE GEARED TO ACQUAINTING STUDENTS WITH AN UNDERSTAND Í NG OF TECHNOLOGY TO DEAL WITH EVERYDAY APPLIANCES AND TO PRODUCING CITIZENS WITH TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO COPE WITH HONG KONG'S RAPID INDUSTRIAL GROWTH.

+PRACTICAL AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS PROPERLY TAUGHT WILL CERTAINLY ENHANCE A STUDENT'S SELF-RELIANCE, COMPETENCE, FORESIGHT, APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS, SHE SAID.

MRS MOK WAS GLAD TO NOTE THAT THERE WAS NOW A GRADUAL CHANGE OF ATTITUDE TOWARDS PRACTICAL AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS AND PREJUDICE AGAINST WORK IN PRODUCTIVE TRADE OR INDUSTRY.

RECALLING THE 1974 WHITE PAPER ON JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION WHICH RECOMMENDED A COMMON CORE OR GENERAL COURSE OF EDUCATION FOR ALL IN FORM I TO 11 WITH BETWEEN 25 PER CENT TO 30 PER CENT OF TEACHING TIME ALLOCATED TO PRACTICAL AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS, MRS MOK SAID THAT EVERY EFFORT WAS MADE TO ASSIST GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOLS LACKING SUCH FACILITIES AND RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT THESE SUBJECTS WITH THE PROVISION OF SUBSIDIES.

THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION WAS REINSTATED IN THE 1978 WHITE PAPER ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION WITH AN OFFER TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES.

TURNING TO PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS WHICH PROVIDE A 50 PER CENT TO 60 PER CENT GENERAL EDUCATION TOGETHER WITH BROAD-BASED BASIC SKILLS IN AT LEAST THREE MAJOR PRACTICAL/TECHNICAL SUBJECTS, MRS MOK SAID IT WAS GRATIFYING TO NOTE THAT GRADUATES FROM THESE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN WELL RECEIVED BY LOCAL EMPLOYERS.

THERE ARE AT PRESENT 13 FULLY SUBSIDISED PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS WITH AN ENROLMENT OF ABOUT 10 000, THESE SCHOOLS ARE CLOSELY LINKED WITH THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR.

BECAUSE OF