XN000022-1982-12-08 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1982

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THREE-PRONGED EFFORT TO TACKLE TRUANCY

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INITIATIVES WERE BEING TAKEN BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND SCHOOLS TO TACKLE TRUANCY, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON COLVYN HAYE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI, MR HAYE SAID THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT DEFINED TRUANCY AS THE UNEXPLAINED ABSENCE OF A PUPIL FROM SCHOOL FOR THREE DAYS IN SUCCESSION AND HEADS OF SCHOOLS HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT THE PARENTS OR GUARDIANS OF PUPILS TO EXPLAIN ANY SUCH ABSENCE.

IF THIS WAS UNSUCCESSFUL, OR THE EXPLANATION WAS UNSATISFACTORY, THE HEAD OF SCHOOL MUST REPORT TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE CASE WOULD BE TAKEN UP BY ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICERS, HE SAID.

+MOST CASES SO REFERRED ARE STRAIGHTFORWARD, BUT WHERE THERE IS A COMPLEX EMOTIONAL OR SOCIAL PROBLEM THE STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICER MUST REFER THE CASE TO ONE OF MY SPECIALISTS IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SECTION, OR TO A TRAINED SOCIAL WORKER IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, MR HAYE ADDED.

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF TRUANCY HAD THREE MAIN COMPONENTS, NAMELY DETECTION, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION.

HE SAID: +EARLY DETECTION MUST REST WITH THOSE DIRECTLY CONCERNED - THE SCHOOL AUTHORITIES, AND WE RELY ON HEADS OF SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS TO HELP US MONITOR THE PROBLEM.

+TREATMENT, AS INDICATED, LIES IN THE FOLLOW-UP OF REPORTED CASES OF TRUANCY, AND HERE AGAIN, OUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE MUST BE IN THE SCHOOLS, WHICH COULD EFFECTIVELY TURN TO PARENTS FOR INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE.*

+ONLY WHEN THIS FAILS DO WE COME INTO THE PICTURE THROUGH STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICERS, COUNSELLING AND GUIDANCE IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THROUGH SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.

MR HAYE, SAID IT WAS IN THE AREA OF PREVENTION THAT HIS DEPARTMENT SPENT MOST TIME AND EFFORT.

+IF WE CAN MAKE OUR SCHOOLS HAPPIER PLACES, FEWER CHILDREN WILL WISH TO PLAY TRUANT. THIS IS WHY WE HAVE CONCENTRATED IN RECENT YEARS ON MAKING THE SCHOOL CURRICULA MORE FITTED TO THE NEEDS OF PUPILS,+ HE SAID.

THIS HAD BEEN DONE THROUGH SYLLABUS REVISION, THE PROVISION OF A WIDER RANGE OF SUBJECTS. CHANGES IN TEACHING METHODS, MORE REMEDIAL ASSISTANCE AND STUDENT GUIDANCE, AND AS VARIED A PROGRAMME OF EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AS CAN BE MANAGED.

TO IMPLEMENT .............