XN000022-1987-01-21 — Page 12

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1987

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LONG-AWAITED OPEN EDUCATION PLAN WELCOMED

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THE PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF OPEN EDUCATION IN HONG KONG, WHICH HAS BEEN LONG AWAITED, RECEIVED FULL SUPPORT FROM THE HON LIU LIT-FOR.

SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT NO. 2 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR LIU SAID THAT THERE WAS A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WHO WERE DENIED THE CHANCE OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION.

IT WAS FAIR AND REASONABLE TO OFFER THESE YOUNG PEOPLE A SECOND CHANCE BY PROVIDING THEM WITH SUB-DEGREE AND DEGREE COURSES, HE SAID.

HE SUGGESTED THAT THE COURSES PROVIDED SHOULD COVER A WIDER RANGE OF SUBJECTS AND CONSIDERATION SHOULD ALSO BE GIVEN TO OPEN EDUCATION AT VARIOUS LEVELS.

ON VOCATIONAL TRAINING, MR LIU SAID THERE WAS STILL A NEED TO UPGRADE THE QUALITY OF THE WORKFORCE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE GREATER EFFICIENCY AND HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY.

+THE PROVISION OF THESE COURSES IS NECESSARY IF WE WANT TO MAINTAIN AND FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG'S TRADE AND INDUSTRY AS WELL AS AFFIRM AND ENHANCE THE TERRITORY'S LONG-TERM COMPETITIVENESS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES,+ HE SAID.

MR LIU ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSORTIUM IN CHARGE OF OPEN EDUCATION SHOULD RECRUIT HIGHLY COMPETENT AND EXPERIENCED STAFF EVEN AT THE EARLY STAGE OF ITS DEVELOPMENT. IF THERE WERE NO SUITABLE LOCAL CANDIDATES, HE ADDED, A RECRUITMENT EXERCISE OVERSEAS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED.

HE ALSO PROPOSED, AS A PILOT PROJECT, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF +COMMUNITY COLLEGES+ WHICH WERE WIDELY IMPLEMENTED IN THE UNITED STATES.

+THESE INSTITUTIONS CAN PROVIDE A WIDE VARIETY OF LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS AND YOUTHS BOTH IN THE DAY-TIME AND IN THE EVENING.

+THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THESE COLLEGES WILL PROBABLY MEET THE EDUCATION NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING IN NEW TOWNS WHERE ACCESS TO TRANSPORT IS RELATIVELY INCONVENIENT, MR LIU SAID.

ON THE SUBJECT OF MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTIONS, MR LIU SAID HE FULLY SUPPORTED THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMISSION THAT EQUAL EMPHASIS SHOULD BE PLACED ON THE USE OF ENGLISH AND CHINESE IN SCHOOLS.

/HE SAID