XN000022-1984-11-09 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1984

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THAT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM HAD TO KEEP PACE WITH THE CHANGING NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY, AND HAD APPOINTED THE EDUCATION COMMISSION IN APRIL THIS YEAR+TO PROVIDE THE GOVERNMENT WITH CONSOLIDATED ADVICE ON THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH:

+SEVEN YEARS AGO, THE FIRST CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING CENTRE WAS OPENED IN KWAI CHÚNG. IT PROVIDES PRACTICAL TRAINING IN THE SKILLS REQUIRED BY WORKERS IN THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY. TODAY WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THE OPENING OF A SECOND, MUCH LARGER CENTRE.

+THE DECISION BY THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE A SECOND CENTRE TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR TRAINING IS ENCOURAGING. IT IS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES WHICH THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY OFFERS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER, TO SCHOOL-LEAVERS AND TO YOUNG WORKERS.

+HONG KONG IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST EXPORTER OF GARMENTS; AND THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY REMAINS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF OUR ECONOMY. HONG KONG WILL REMAIN AN EXPORT-ORIENTED ECONOMY, AND MUST REMAIN COMPETITIVE IF IT IS TO BE AS SUCCESSFUL IN THE FUTURE AS IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST. THIS REQUIRES THAT OUR INDUSTRIES SHOULD ADAPT TO CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS, SHOULD KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES, AND SHOULD CONTINUALLY IMPROVE THE SKILLS OF ITS WORKFORCE.

+THE SKILLS OF OUR WORKFORCE DEPEND LARGELY ON THE TYPE AND EXTENT OF TRAINING AVAILABLE TO IT. WE HAVE MADE RAPID AND SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS IN RECENT YEARS IN IMPROVING VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN HONG KONG. BETTER OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO ACQUIRE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE IN A WIDE AND GROWING RANGE OF JOBS. BUT THIS IS A CONTINUING PROCESS. IF THE HONG KONG +ECONOMIC MIRACLE+ IS TO BE SUSTAINED, TECHNICALLY QUALIFIED STAFF MUST BE FORTHCOMING; THIS CAN BE ACHIEVED ONLY BY TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION.

+ IMPROVEMENTS TO EDUCATION, BOTH IN TERMS OF QUANTITY AND QUALITY, ARE MATTERS OF PRIME IMPORTANCE. THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THAT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM MUST KEEP PACE WITH THE CHANGING NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY. AND EVERY EFFORT MUST BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE COMING GENERATION IS ADEQUATELY TRAINED AND PROPERLY EQUIPPED FOR TOMORROW'S WORLD.

+FOR THESE REASONS, THE EDUCATION COMMISSION WAS APPOINTED IN APRIL THIS YEAR TO PROVIDE THE GOVERNMENT WITH CONSOLIDATED ADVICE ON THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. IT HAS COMPLETED ITS INITIAL TASK AND SUBMITTED A FIRST REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT. THE COMMISSION HAS MADE A NUMBER OF WIDE-RANGING RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION ASSESSMENT, LANGUAGE IN EDUCATION, IMPROVEMENTS IN TEACHER TRAINING, AND EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AS WELL AS VOCATIONAL TRAINING. THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL SHORTLY BE CONSIDERED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.

/+LET ME