XN000022-1987-11-17 — Page 9

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1987

MORE RESOURCES TO PROMOTE PRACTICAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

HONG KONG'S FIRST PRACTICAL EDUCATION CENTRE AND TECHNICAL TEACHING CENTRE WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENED ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 20) BY THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING, MR HORACE KNIGHT.

ROAD,

THE FORMER LOK FU

THE TWO CENTRES, HOUSED UNDER ONE ROOF AT GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL AT 145 JUNCTION

LOK FU, HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AS PART OF ITS EFFORTS TO PROMOTE THE TEACHING OF PRACTICAL AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

THE PRACTICAL EDUCATION CENTRE CATERS FOR STUDENTS OF SCHOOLS IN EAST KOWLOON INCLUDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHICH ARE SHORT OF ACCOMMODATION, FACILITIES OR TRAINED TEACHERS FOR THE TEACHING OF PRACTICAL AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS.

IT HAS 15 WORKSHOPS AND SPECIAL ROOMS FOR THE TEACHING OF WOODWORK, METALWORK, PLASTICS, COOKERY, NEEDLEWORK, PAINTING, POTTERY AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL WORKS UNDER THE THREE SCHOOL SUBJECTS OF DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY, HOME ECONOMICS AND ART AND DESIGN. IN ADDITION, IT HAS TWO CLASSROOMS AND A REFERENCE LIBRARY WITH AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT.

THE CENTRE IS MANNED BY QUALIFIED TEACHERS OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. INSTRUCTION IS GIVEN FREE то STUDENTS WHO ATTEND AN 80-MINUTE SESSION ONCE A WEEK AT THE CENTRE FOR EACH SUBJECT THEY TAKE.

STAFF OF THE CENTRE KEEP IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE FULLY INFORMED OF THE PROGRESS OF THEIR STUDENTS IN THE CENTRE.

THE CENTRE IS NOW SERVICING ABOUT 5,400 SECONDARY 1 AND 2 STUDENTS FROM 11 SCHOOLS IN THE EAST KOWLOON REGION. IT CAN HANDLE UP ΤΟ 9,600 STUDENTS. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE CENTRE WILL START OPERATING COURSES FOR SECONDARY 3 STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOL YEAR 1988/89.

THE TECHNICAL TEACHING CENTRE WAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE BENEFIT OF TEACHERS OF TECHNICAL SUBJECTS. IT HAS A MODERN WORKSHOP EQUIPPED WITH SOPHISTICATED MACHINERY INCLUDING GRINDERS, MILLING MACHINES AND SHAPERS FOR TEACHERS' USE IN ENHANCING THE TEACHING OF TECHNICAL SUBJECTS IN SCHOOLS.

THE CENTRE