XN000022-1984-03-07 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1984

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THE COMMISSION WILL CO-ORDINATE BUT NOT DIRECT THE WORK OF THE THREE MAJOR ADVISORY BODIES ON EDUCATION, HE SAID.

THE FULL TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE COMMISSION ARE I

FOR

+THE EDUCATION COMMISSION IS ESTABLISHED TO SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNOR CONSOLIDATED ADVICE ON THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE IN THE LIGHT OF THE NEED OF THE COMMUNITY. THIS PURPOSE THE COMMISSION WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING TERMS OF REFERENCE -

(A) TO DEFINE OVERALL EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES, FORMULATE EDUCATION POLICY, AND RECOMMEND PRIORITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION HAVING REGARD TO THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE;

(B)

TO CO-ORDINATE AND MONITOR THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS; AND

(C) TO INITIATE EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH.

IN CARRYING OUT THESE TASKS, THE COMMISSION SHOULD CO-ORDINATE BUT NOT SEEK TO DIRECT THE WORK OF THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.

+THE COMMISSION WILL BE SERVICED BY THE EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.+

MAJOR ISSUES ARISING FROM RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE PANEL OF VISITORS WILL RECEIVE THE FIRST ATTENTION OF THE COMMISSION: FUTURE OF THE JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL ASSESSMENT: POLICY ON THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION; IMPROVEMENTS TO TEACHER TRAINING: DISTANCE LEARNING: AND FINANCING OF EDUCATION.

MEANWHILE, GOVERNMENT ACTION HAS ALREADY BEEN, OR IS BEING, TAKEN ON SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS. SUCH ACTION INCLUDES THE STEPPING-UP OF IN-SERVICE TRAINING FOR TEACHERS PROVIDED BY THE INSTITUTE OF LANGUAGE IN EDUCATION AND THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUBJECT RESOURCE CENTRES.

A WORKING PARTY IS CONSIDERING THE DETAILED ACCOMMODATION AND RESOURCES REQUIREMENTS OF AN INSTITUTE FOR THE TRAINING OF KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS AND CHILD CARE CENTRE WORKERS, AND APPROVAL HAS RECENTLY BEEN GIVEN FOR A SCHEME OF INTENSIVE REMEDIAL TEACHING SERVICES FOR SPECIAL GROUPS.

IN THE FIELD OF CONTINUING EDUCATION, THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN RECEIPT OF GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION TO ASSIST THEM IN OPERATING ADULT EDUCATION COURSES HAS INCREASED FROM 28 IN 1982 TO 35 IN 1983 WITH A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS FROM 47 IN 1982 TO 73 IN 1983. THE UPGC IS EXAMINING THE CASE FOR ESTABLISHING AN OPEN UNIVERSITY TYPE OF INSTITUTION IN HONG KONG, ITS REPORT IS EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE IN APRIL THIS YEAR.

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