XN000022-1987-05-16 — Page 4

SATURDAY, MAY 16, 1987

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COMPUTER LITERACY FOR JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

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THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS TO ASSIST SOME 70 PUBLIC SECTOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO OFFER COMPUTER LITERACY COURSES TO JUNIOR SECONDARY STUDENTS IN THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR IN SEPTEMBER.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS ARE INVITED TO TAKE PART IN THE PHASED INTRODUCTION OF COMPUTER LITERACY COURSE IN FORM I AND LEF STARTING SEPTEMBER. APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BEFORE JUNE 8.

TO ENABLE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPUTER LITERACY COURSES IN JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED A COMMITMENT OF $7.5 MILLION FOR THE PROJECT WHICH INCLUDED $6.3 MILLION FOR RECURRENT EXPENDITURE AND $1.2 MILLION FOR NON-RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.

THE OBJECTIVE OF INTRODUCING COMPUTER LITERACY COURSES WAS TO ENABLE ALL STUDENTS TO RECEIVE SOME FORM OF COMPUTER EDUCATION DURING THEIR NINE-YEAR FREE AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID.

THE EMPHASIS OF THE COURSES IS TO ENHANCE STUDENTS' UNDERSTANDING OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY IN GENERAL RATHER THAN ON PROGRAMME WRITING.

COMPUTER EDUCATION WAS FIRST INTRODUCED TO PUBLIC SECTOR SCHOOLS IN 1982 THROUGH THE SUBJECT OF COMPUTER STUDIES AT FORMS IV AND Y. IT HAS BECOME A WELL ESTABLISHED SUBJECT AND CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED IN MORE THAN BO PER CENT OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

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EXISTING COMPUTER EQUIPMENT PROVIDED FOR SCHOOLS UNDER THE COMPUTER STUDIES SCHEME IS CONSIDERED ADEQUATE TO SUPPORT THIS NEW SUBJECT WHILE SOFTWARE PACKAGES WILL BE PROVIDED BY STAGES FOR USE IN THE PRACTICAL SESSIONS OF THE COURSE.

FOR THOSE SCHOOLS WHICH HAD NOT ALREADY BEEN INCLUDED IN THE COMPUTER STUDIES SCHEME MIGHT ALSO OFFER COMPUTER LITERACY COURSES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, ADDING THAT THEY WOULD BE EXPECTED TO MAKE USE OF THEIR OWN COMPUTER EQUIPMENT.