XN000022-1983-12-15 — Page 10

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1983

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IMPROVED AID FOR SPECIAL SCHOOLS

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STAFF AND FINANCIAL PROVISIONS TO SPECIAL SCHOOLS WILL BE ENHANCED FROM APRIL NEXT YEAR UNDER A REVISED CODE OF AID, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY).

CIRCULARS DETAILING THE VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO SPECIAL SCHOOLS TO GIVE THEM AMPLE TIME TO INTRODUCE THE NEW PROVISIONS.

UNDER THE REVISED CODE, THE TEACHER-TO-CLASS RATIO FOR SPECIAL SCHOOLS WILL BE INCREASED FROM THE EXISTING 1.33 1 FOR PRIMARY CLASSES AND 1.4 1 FOR SECONDARY CLASSES TO A UNIFORM RATIO OF 1.51 FOR BOTH.

SPECIAL SCHOOLS WITH JUNIOR SECONDARY CLASSES WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO EMPLOY MORE GRADUATE TEACHERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

GRADUATE POSTS IN THE TEACHING ESTABLISHMENT FOR THE SECONDARY SECTION OF THESE SCHOOLS WILL BE INCREASED FROM THE EXISTING 12.5 PER CENT TO A MAXIMUM OF 30 PER CENT.

THE CODE ALSO PERMITS CERTAIN TYPES OF SPECIAL SCHOOLS TO EMPLOY MORE STAFF FOR SPEECH THERAPY, BOARDING CARE AND MENTAL WORK.

UNDER THE NEW CODE, A CLASS LIBRARY GRANT OF $300 PER ANNUM WILL BE PROVIDED FOR ALL SPECIAL SCHOOLS.

HOWEVER, SECONDARY SPECIAL SCHOOLS WITH CLASS SIZES EXCEEDING 15 WILL CONTINUE TO BE PAID A LIBRARY GRANT AT THE PRESENT LEVEL OF $20 PER PUPIL PER ANNUM,

THIS WILL REPLACE THE CURRENT LIBRARY GRANTS PROVIDED ON A PER CAPITA BASIS.

THE PARAMEDICAL GRANT OF $1 910 PER CLASS PER ANNUM FOR CONSUMABLES AND MINOR ITEMS OF FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT FOR PHYSIOTHERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY CURRENTLY PROVIDED IN SPECIAL SCHOOLS FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED WILL BE EXTENDED TO SPECIAL SCHOOLS FOR THE SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.

TWO NEW GRANTS WILL BE INTRODUCED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR BLIND STUDENTS TO INTEGRATE INTO ORDINARY SCHOOLS, THE SPOKESMAN NOTED.

THEY INCLUDE AN ANNUAL RESOURCE MATERIAL GRANT OF $100 PER PUPIL REGISTERED WITH A SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND FOR RESOURCE TEACHING, AND A TRAVELLING GRANT OF $500 PER ANNUM FOR EACH RESOURCE TEACHER OF INTEGRATED BLIND STUDENTS.

COPIES OF THE REVISED CODE OF AID FOR SPECIAL SCHOOLS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO SPECIAL SCHOOLS AS SOON AS THEY ARE READY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

SPECIAL SCHOOL HEADS OR TEACHERS WHO HAVE ANY QUERIES MAY CONTACT THE PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR (SPECIAL EDUCATION), MR C.K. LAM, ON 5-8392524.

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