XN000022-1982-11-11 — Page 12

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1982

BUT HE ADDED THAT THE WHITE PAPER ON PRIMARY EDUCATION AND PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES OF JULY, 1981 WAS A CLEAR COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE.

+ IF THE DEVELOPMENTS OF SOME OF THE WHITE PAPER APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN DELAYED, THIS IS NOT BECAUSE THERE IS LACK OF A SENSE OF URGENCY, BUT BECAUSE WE DO NOT INTEND TO SACRIFICE QUALITY FOR INITIAL SPEED.

+THE LEAD TIME REQUIRED FOR THE VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS, AND THE NEED FOR PHASING, DO NOT ADMIT INSTANT RESULTS, BUT THE BETTER SERVICES PLANNED SHOULD MATERIALISE FROM THE MID-1980'S,+ HE SAID,

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, HE ADDED, HAD STARTED A USEFUL DIALOGUE WITH SIX UNOFFICIAL BODIES WITH AN INTEREST IN KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION.

THESE TALKS WILL BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE OTHER INTERESTED BODIES AND INDIVIDUALS AND IT IS INTENDED THAT REGULAR CONSULTATIVE MEETINGS WILL BE HELD IN FUTURE.

PROPOSALS WILL BE PROCESSED BY AN INTERDEPARTMENTAL STANDING COMMITTEE WHICH COORDINATES THE WORK OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN SUPERVISING AND SERVICING PRE-PRIMARY EDUCATION AND CARE, HE SAID.

RESPONDING TO MR CHEONG'S COMMENTS ON THE PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION SYSTEM, MR HAYE ASKED IF HE WANTED TO IMPOSE, OR REIMPOSE, PRESSURE AND ANXIETY ON FIVE YEAR-OLDS AND FOUR YEAR-OLDS IN KINDERGARTEN, BEARING IN MIND THE CONCERN EXPRESSED BY MRS CHOW OF THE JSEA ON THE 15 YEAR-OLDS AND DR IP'S WARNING THAT CHILDREN MUST NOT BE TREATED LIKE MINIATURE ADULTS LEST THEY GROW UP TO BE OVERSIZED CHILDREN.

IN THE PAST THE POSSIBLE OPTIONS OPEN TO PRIMARY SCHOOLS WERE EITHER TO HOLD AN ENTRANCE EXAMINATION, OR A LOTTERY, OR CHOOSE CHILDREN FROM ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD, OR CHOOSE CHILDREN WHO HAVE SOME CONNECTIONS WITH THE SCHOOL.

+ IF WE AGREE THAT ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS ARE UNDESIRABLE AND LOTTERIES ARE UNACCEPTABLE, THE TWO REMAINING OPTIONS ARE THE ONLY ONES WHICH ARE FEASIBLE. THEY WERE IN FACT THE METHODS ADOPTED BY SOME SCHOOLS UP TO THE PRESENT.

+THE PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING THE PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION SYSTEM, WHICH IS BASED ON THESE TWO METHODS, ARE THEREFORE NOT ENTIRELY NEW.

+1 CANNOT CLAIM THAT THE SYSTEM IS PERFECT, BUT I CAN SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN FINALISED ONLY AFTER MOST CAREFUL CONSULTATION WITH ALL MAJOR SCHOOL COUNCILS. NONE OF WHOM DISAGREED WITH THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES OF THE NEW SYSTEM ALTHOUGH A NUMBER OF VERY HELPFUL COMMENTS WAS RECEIVED ON POINTS OF DETAIL.

/+EVEN NOW,