XN000022-1981-08-31 — Page 2

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 1981

INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE SET UP

TO MONITOR DELINQUENT BEHAVIOUR IN SCHOOLS

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THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION HAS SET UP AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE TO MONITOR UNRULY AND DELINQUENT BEHAVIOUR IN SCHOOLS.

IT WILL BE CHAIRED BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND WILL INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, POLICE, NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, THE ICAC, AND THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING.

THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION HAS ALSO ISSUED GUIDELINES FOR THE INCULCATION OF MORAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS IN THE CONTEXT OF CONCERN EXPRESSED BY COMMUNITY AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS, HEADS OF SCHOOLS AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN RECENT MONTHS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE SAID THAT THESE INITIATIVES BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WERE AMONG A NUMBER OF STEPS BEING TAKEN OR PLANNED BY VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS TO COUNTER JUVENILE DELINQUENCY FOLLOWING THE REPORT SUBMITTED LAST APRIL BY THE WORKING GROUP ON JUVENILE CRIME.

CONCERN HAD BEEN EXPRESSED IN THE REPORT OVER THE APPROPRIATENESS OF SCHOOL CURRICULA FOR THE LESS ACADEMICALLY INCLINED CHILD. TO MEET THIS PROBLEM, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO BROADEN THE CURRICULUM FOR JUNIOR SECONDARY FORMS, A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE BROADENING BEING THE EXPANSION OF THE TEACHING OF PRACTICAL SUBJECTS.

IT IS ALSO PLANNED TO DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL PLACES OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, WITH PROVISION FOR FURTHER EXPANSION.

FROM SEPTEMBER 1982, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, ALL GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOLS WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL TEACHERS FOR THE TEACHING OF CHINESE AND ENGLISH. THIS WOULD ENABLE THE CREATION OF SMALLER REMEDIAL GROUPS FOR LANGUAGE TEACHING. THE ADDITIONAL TEACHERS WILL BE PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH A FORMULA BASED ON TWO ADDITIONAL TEACHERS PER STANDARD SIZE SCHOOL.+

PLANS WERE ALSO IN TRAIN TO INCREASE FURTHER THE NUMBERS OF TEACHERS IN SCHOOLS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE NOTED THAT PLANS FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS WERE OUTLINED IN THE WHITE PAPER ON PRIMARY EDUCATION AND PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST MONTH, AND SAID THAT PLANS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS WERE NOW BEING CONSIDERED IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

THE AIM IS TO IMPROVE THE CLASS TEACHER RATIO IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS SO THAT MORE TEACHERS CAN BE SPARED FOR COUNSELLING, CAREERS GUIDANCE AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITY, HE SAID.

/MEANWHILE