XN000022-1983-10-05 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1983

GOVERNMENT TAKING FRESH LOOK AT WHOLE EDUCATION SYSTEM

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IT IS NOW NECESSARY TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AS A WHOLE TO ENSURE THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO MEET THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT IT REMAINS GEARED TO THE FUTURE NEEDS OF HONG KONG, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND ITS QUALITY AND DIRECTION WERE PATTERS OF THE HIGHEST IMPORTANCE FOR THE FUTURE PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG, SIR EDWARD STRESSED.

+ IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALREADY BEING MADE IN THE STANDARDS OF TEACHING IN SCHOOLS; VOCATIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING ARE BEING EXPANDED, AND THE NUMBER OF DEGREE AND HIGHER DIPLOMA PLACES AT THE TWO UNIVERSITIES AND THE POLYTECHNIC INCREASED,+ HE SAID.

HE RECALLED THAT THE GOVERNMENT INITIATED IN 1981 AN OVERALL REVIEW OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM TO ASSESS THE INTER-RELATIONSHIP OF THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF EDUCATION, AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EACH PART OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

THE INTERNATIONAL PANEL WHICH CONDUCTED THE REVIEW IDENTIFIED FIVE AREAS WHICH REQUIRED PRIORITY ATTENTION, HE SAID.

THESE WERE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE LANGUAGE' POLICY FOR SCHOOLS: THE NEED TO INCREASE BOTH THE NUMBER AND THE QUALITY OF TEACHERS: THE IMPROVEMENT OF SELECTION AND ALLOCATION PROCEDURES TO REDUCE THE NUMBER AND PRESSURE OF EXAMINATIONS: THE PROVISION OF GREATER ACCESS TO POST-SCHOOL EDUCATION, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MEANS OF REGULAR REVIEWS OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.

+THE REPORT, TOGETHER WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS THEREON, SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR DECISION BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.

+THE FINANCING OF ANY IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR SYSTEM OF EDUCATION WILL NEED TO BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED, BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO EDUCATION, AND ARE PREPARED TO PAY FOR IMPROVEMENTS, SIR EDWARD SAID.

ON TECHNICAL EDUCATION, SIR EDWARD POINTED OUT THAT THE NUMBER OF PLACES WAS BEING INCREASED BY EXPANDING TWO OF THE EXISTING FIVE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, AND BUILDING TWO MORE IN SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN BY JULY 1985.

TWO NEW INDUSTRIAL TRAINING COMPLEXES NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT KWAI CHUNG AND KOWLOON BAY SHOULD BE IN OPERATION BY LATE 1984 WHILE A SEAMEN'S TRAINING CENTRE IS ALSO SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION BY NEXT YEAR, HE SAID.

ON THE