XN000022-1983-08-22 — Page 9

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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 1983

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CAREERS TEACHERS TRAINING COURSE LAUNCHED

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GIVEN SUFFICIENT RESOURCES, THE LABOUR AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS HOPE TO ORGANISE A TRAINING COURSE FOR CAREERS TEACHERS ON A YEARLY BASIS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR RON BRIDGE, THIS (MONDAY) AFTERNOON AT THE OPENING OF THE FIRST ONE-YEAR, PART-TIME TRAINING COURSE FOR CAREERS TEACHERS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE TWO DEPARTMENTS.

THE COURSE COVERS VIRTUALLY EVERY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF CAREER EDUCATION, INCLUDING CAREERS GUIDANCE, COUNSELLING AND ORGANISING CAREERS PROGRAMMES.

+I MUST EMPHASISE THAT THIS COURSE IS ONLY THE FIRST IN WHAT WE HOPE WILL BE A CONTINUING SERIES,+ HE SAID.

MR. BRIDGE THEN OUTLINED THE DEPARTMENT'S CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS CAREERS EDUCATION,

THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, HE EXPLAN ED, WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF CAREERS MASTERS TO PROVIDE CAREERS TEACHERS WITH A FUL RANGE OF SERVICES TO HELP THEM IN THEIR WORK.

IN ADDITION TO GIVING CAREERS INFORMATION TO STUDENTS BY TALKS, CONVENTIONS AND EXHIBITIONS, THE DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS THROUGH ITS THREE REGIONAL CAREERS INFORMATION CENTRES A CONTINUING SUPPLY OF THE MOST UP-TO-DATE MATERIALS IN THE FORM OF BOOKS, PAMPHLETS. SLIDES, TAPES AND VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDINGS TO HELP STUDENTS DECIDE ON THEIR FUTURE CAREER,

THE DEPARTMENT ALSO HAS SPECIFIC REFERENCE MATERIALS FOR CAREERS TEACHERS INCLUDING RESOURCE GUIDEBOOKS AND BOOKS ON THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE, COUNSELLING, AND APTITUDE TESTS.

MR BRIDGE POINTED OUT THAT THE CENTRES HAD ALREADY PROVED VERY POPULAR WITH STUDENTS AND CAREERS TEACHERS AND HAD ABOUT 30 000 VISITORS THIS YEAR.

SPEAKING EARLIER AT THE OPENING, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR COLVYN HAYE, STRESSED THAT CAREERS EDUCATION WAS IMPORTANT TO YOUNG PEOPLE LEAVING THE CLASSROOM FOR THE REAL WORLD.

FOR MANY YEARS NOW, HE SAID, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF CAREERS MASTERS HAD BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE PREPARATION AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION AND RESOURCE MATERIALS CONCERNING CAREERS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS AND THE PUBLIC.

/MR HAYE