XN000022-1987-10-21 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1987

HE ADDED THAT THE POLICY HAD BEEN REVIEWED BY THE EDUCATION COMMISSION AND WAS ENDORSED BY THE COMMISSION IN ITS SECOND REPORT.

6

THE REPORT ALSO COMMENTED ON THE UNDER UTILISATION OF FORM AND FORM 7 PLACES AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SHOULD REINFORCE ITS EFFORTS TO SEE THAT PUBLIC SECTOR FORM 6 PLACES WERE FILLED WHERE CANDIDATES OF SUITABLE ACADEMIC STANDING WERE AVAILABLE.

THE AVERAGE SIXTH FORM PROVISION RATE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR IN 1984, 1985 AND 1986 WAS 32.2 PER CENT OF THE EQIVALENT FORM 4 PLACES. THE AVERAGE TAKE UP RATE WAS 87.8 PER CENT. FOR FORM 7 PLACES THE AVERAGE TAKE UP RATE WAS 81.2 PER CENT.

"THE REASON FOR THE SLIGHTLY LOWER TAKE UP RATE FOR FORM 7 PLACES IS THAT SOME STUDENTS ACCEPT PLACES IN THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OR THE POLYTECHNICS, OR GO ABROAD FOR FURTHER STUDIES OR TAKE UP EMPLOYMENT AFTER COMPLETING FORM 6. MR BRIDGE SAID.

rt

HE SAID WHEN DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICERS INSPECTED AND VISITED SCHOOLS THEY CONSTANTLY ADVISED THEM TO MAKE FULL USE OF ALL THEIR FORM 6 AND 7 PLACES AND DISCUSSED WITH THEM THE REASONS FOR THEIR FAILURE TO DO SO.

MR BRIDGE SAID: "IT SEEMS THAT ONE PROBLEM THAT HAS COMB TO LIGHT IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SCHOOLS 19 OVER HOW SCHOOLS SHOULD DECIDE WHICH STUDENTS ARE SUITABLE FOR SIXTH FORM EDUCATION.

"WHILE MOST SCHOOLS ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT H LEVEL STUDENTS WITH THE MINIMUM ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS, IT SEEMS THAT SOME TEND TO REQUIRE A LEVEL STUDENTS TO HAVE RATHER BETTER THAN THE MINIMUM ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS. APPARENTLY, THIS IS BECAUSE SCHOOLS CONSIDER A LEVELS TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE.'

SOCIAL WORKERS TOLD TO TAKE GREATER CARE

SOCIAL WORKERS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN REMINDED ΤΟ TAKE GREATER CARE IN HANDLING CASES WITH POTENTIAL RISKS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HUI YIN-FAT, MR CHAMBERS SAID THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WOULD SHORTLY ISSUE A MORE DETAILED GUIDANCE NOTE ON PROCEDURES AND PRACTICES WHICH SHOULD TO AVOID STRESS AND TENSION ON THE PART OF CLIENTS.

HRLP

"IN EXTREME