XN000022-1983-01-03 — Page 2

MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1983

DEMAND SEEN FOR ADVANCED INSTRUCTOR TRAINING

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THERE WILL BE A GROWING DEMAND FOR INSTRUCTORS TO HAVE MORE ADVANCED TRAINING IN TEACHING TECHNIQUES IN BOTH THE INDUSTRIAL AND NON-INDUSTRIAL SECTORS, ACCORDING TO A REPORT JUST PUBLISHED.

THE REPORT WAS PREPARED BY THE COMMITTEE ON INSTRUCTOR TRAINING OF THE FORMER HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL AFTER ANALYSING THE INFORMATION COLLECTED IN A SURVEY CONDUCTED IN AUGUST 1981. THE COUNCIL HAS NOW BEEN REPLACED BY THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.

FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY, AN INSTRUCTOR WAS CONSIDERED TO BE SOMEONE WHO INSTRUCTS_GROUPS OF APPRENTICES, TRAINEES, WORKERS AND STUDENTS IN THE USE OF TOOLS, INSTRUMENTS OR MACHINES AND IN THE HANDLING AND EXAMINATION OF MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS.

THE COMMITTEE STRESSED THAT OTHER THAN ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE, QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO IMPART EFFECTIVELY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL EITHER ON THE JOB OR IN THE CLASSROOM.

+SUCH ABILITY IS NOT INBORN BUT CAN ONLY BE ACQUIRED THROUGH PROPER INSTITUTIONAL TRAINING. IT IS, THEREFORE, IMPERATIVE THAT INSTRUCTORS SHOULD HAVE THIS TRAINING, + THE COMMITTEE SAID IN THE REPORT.

IT ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT EMPLOYERS SHOULD PROVIDE INCENTIVES TO ENCOURAGE THEIR INSTRUCTORS TO ATTEND COURSES AND RETAIN THEM FOR INSTRUCTING PURPOSES.

THE COMMITTEE IS AN ADVISORY BODY APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND RESPONSIBLE FOR MATTERS PERTAINING TO INSTRUCTOR TRAINING IN INDUSTRY, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

THE SURVEY, THE FOURTH IN A SERIES, COVERED A SAMPLING OF 3 325 INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS IN 10 DIFFERENT SECTORS, INCLUDING +BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING+ FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THE NON-INDUSTRIAL SEGMENT SURVEYED COMPRISED 99 TEACHING INSTITUTIONS AND 58 VARIOUS OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS.

THE SURVEY REVEALED THAT THERE WERE ABOUT 20 400 INSTRUCTORS AND 400 TRAINING OFFICERS IN AUGUST 1981 IN INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS EMPLOYING 50 WORKERS OR MORE, AND IN THE NON-INDUSTRIAL SEGMENT.

IN THE BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING SECTOR WHICH WAS SURVEYED FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS FOUND THERE WERE 2 577 INSTRUCTORS AND 26 TRAINING OFFICERS.

THE OTHER NINE SECTORS ALTOGETHER EMPLOYED 16 322 INSTRUCTORS AND 308 TRAINING OFFICERS, DOWN 3.3 PER CENT FROM THE NUMBER BETWEEN 1979 AND 1981 RECORDED BY THE PREVIOUS SURVEY.

/THE DECREASES