XN000022-1983-07-03 — Page 2

1

SUNDAY, JULY 3, 1983

MORE SCHOOLS NOW USING +ACTIVITY APPROACH+

******

MORE THAN 30 000 PRIMARY PUPILS ARE NOW RECEIVING THEIR EDUCATION IN AN INFORMAL AND STIMULATING ATMOSPHERE THROUGH THE +ACTIVITY APPROACH+.

THIS APPROACH IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE SPONTANEOUS LEARNING THROUGH PURPOSEFUL ACTIVITIES.

+THE APPROACH IS PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR PUPILS IN PRIMARY WHO ARE STILL FRESH FROM LEARNING THROUGH PLAY IN THE KINDERGARTEN, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID.

THE ACTIVITY APPROACH HAS GAINED WIDE ACCEPTANCE SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION IN 1972.

TODAY, A TOTAL OF 900 CLASSES IN 106 GOVERNMENT, SUBSIDISED AND PRIVATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS ARE USING THIS APPROACH, COMPARED WITH 16 CLASSES IN SIX PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN 1972.

ABOUT 300 CLASSES MORE WOULD ADOPT THE APPROACH IN THE 1983-84 SCHOOL YEAR, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

WITH THE ACTIVITY APPROACH, A CLASS IS DIVIDED INTO GROUPS PURSUING DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES CAREFULLY DESIGNED BY THE TEACHER ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS AND ABILITIES.

+ IN THIS WAY, PUPILS CAN LEARN AT THEIR OWN PACE ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITIES WHILE THE TEACHER CAN PAY MORE ATTENTION TO INDIVIDUAL PUPILS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

USUALLY THE CLASS TEACHER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TEACHING MOST OF THE SUBJECTS. VARIOUS SUBJECT CONTENTS ARE INTEGRATED INTO CLASS ACTIVITIES WHERE APPROPRIATE, AND BROAD TIME-TABLES ARE USED.

A SCHOOL IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR ADOPTING THE ACTIVITY APPROACH RECEIVES AN INITIAL GRANT OF $3 000 PER CLASS FOR THE PURCHASE OF CLASSROOM EQUIPMENT, AND A RECURRENT ANNUAL SUBSIDY OF $600 PER CLASS FOR THE PURCHASE OF CONSUMABLES AND TEACHING MATERIALS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN-SERVICE TRAINING WAS PARTICULARLY HELPFUL TO TEACHERS ADOPTING THE ACTIVITY APPROACH.

THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PROVIDES SHORT IN-SERVICE COURSES FOR TEACHERS USING OR PLANNING TO USE THE APPROACH.

THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE ALSO ORGANISE EIGHT-WEEK SYSTEMATIC RETRAINING COURSES FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE ACTIVITY APPROACH.

/TO PROVIDE