XN000022-1985-01-23 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1985

HOWEVER, THE INTERESTS OF STUDENTS SHOULD BE GIVEN PRIME CONSIDERATION AND SCHOOLS SHOULD MAKE A REALISTIC AND SENSIBLE DECISION ON THE QUESTION OF TEACHING MEDIUM AFTER TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE TEACHERS' LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY IN THE CLASSROOM, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO KEEP UP APPEARANCES, HE SAID.

AS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, SCHOOLS SHOULD, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT, SHOULDER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF CHANGING THE PUBLIC'S ATTITUDE TOWARDS USING CHINESE AS THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION, MR YEUNG SAID.

+HOWEVER, THE POLICY OF PROMOTING THE USE OF CHINESE AS THE TEACHING MEDIUM IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS CAN ONLY BE EFFECTIVE IF IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY THE PROVISION OF HIGH-STANDARD TEXTBOOKS WRITTEN IN CHINESE, SUFFICIENT LANGUAGE TRAINING FOR TEACHERS. THE PROVISION OF TEACHING RESOURCES IN ENGLISH AND AN APPROPRIATE SYSTEM OF BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EXAMINATIONS, HE SAID.

MR YEUNG ALSO STRESSED THAT IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO STRENGTHEN TEACHER TRAINING TO ACHIEVE BETTER RESULTS IN THE LEARNING PROCESS.

HE SAID: +1985 MARKS THE FIRST YEAR IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG.

+THE NEW SITUATION CALLS FOR THE TRAINING OF SUITABLE LEADERS IN LINE WITH THE FUTURE POLICY OF HONG KONG PEOPLE GOVERNING HONG KONG.

+BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC HAVE THE DUTY TO REFORM HONG KONG'S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, HE SAID.

FINANCE COURSES FOR TOP OFFICERS PROPOSED ****

THE GOVERNMENT WAS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) CALLED ON TO INTRODUCE A COURSE IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FOR CIVIL SERVANTS RISING TO DIRECTORATE RANK.

THE SUGGESTION WAS PUT BY THE HON S.L. CHEN WHEN TABLING THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 7 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MR CHEN, WHO IS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, SAID THERE WAS A NEED TO INCULCATE A GREATER SENSE OF FINANCIAL AWARENESS IN MANAGERS IN THE GOVERNMENT.

ALL OFFICERS RISING TO DIRECTORATE RANK IN THE CIVIL SERVICE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO GO THROUGH A COURSE IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT WHICH OUTLINED THE ESSENTIALS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S BUDGETARY SYSTEM, TAUGHT THEM THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF COST ACCOUNTING AND MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING, AND GAVE THEM A FIRM GRASP OF THE ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES OF FINANCIAL CONTROL, FINANCIAL FORECASTING AND EVEN FINANCIAL MODELLING, HE SAID.

/+I DO