XN000022-1987-12-02 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1987

SAFETY GUIDANCE FOR OUTDOOR SCHOOL ACTIVITY

THE

SCHOOL AUTHORITIES AND TEACHERS ARE MADE CONSTANTLY AWARE OF IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CONDUCTING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR BRIDGE SAID THAT FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES REQUIRING CLOSE SUPERVISION, SCHOOLS WERE ADVISED TO OBSERVE TEACHER/STUDENT RATIOS APPROPRIATE TO THE NATURE OF EACH ACTIVITY, THE TYPE OF PUPIL AND THE DEGREE OF RISK INVOLVED.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN, MR BRIDGE SAID THE RATIOS FOR CANOEING WAS ONE INSTRUCTOR TO EIGHT CANOES AND ONK TEACHER TO 30 PRIMARY OR SECONDARY STUDENTS FOR OUTDOOR EDUCATION CAMPS.

FOR SEVERELY HANDICAPPED PUPILS THE RATIO WAS INCREASED TO ONE TEACHER ΤΟ TWO PUPILS; AND FOR MALADJUSTED CHILDREN THE CORRESPONDING RATIO WAS ONE TEACHER TO 15 PUPILS.

HE ADDED THAT IN THE "LEARN-TO-SWIM" SCHEME FOR PRIMARY AGED 10 OR ABOVE, THE RECOMMENDED RATIO WAS ONE INSTRUCTOR PUPILS.

PUPILS

TO 30

SAFETY

"THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ADVISES SCHOOLS WHAT PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE WHEN ORGANISING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES." MR BRIDGE

SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THIS ADVICE WAS CONTAINED IN PUBLICATIONS ISSUED TO ALL SCHOOLS, WHICH INCLUDED CURRENT SYLLABUSES PRODUCED BY THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE AND COMPREHENSIVE PAMPHLETS ON SAFETY, NOTABLY THAT RELATED TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

SCHOOLS

HE SAID THAT THIS MATERIAL WAS SUPPLEMENTED BY GENERAL CIRCULARS AND UPDATED ANNUALLY, IN WHICH ADVICE WAS GIVEN ON THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS то BE TAKEN FOR SUCH OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AS SWIMMING GALAS, SCHOOL ATHLETIC MEETS, AND ORGANISED VISITS AND EXCURSIONS.

"THE INSPECTORATE ALSO REGULARLY

COURSES ON SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR TEACHERS.

RUNS IN-SERVICE TRAINING

"THE AIM IS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE SAFETY MEASURES TO BE TAKEN IN CONDUCTING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, MR BRIDGE SAID.

TT

HE SAID THAT THROUGH THESE CHANNELS, SCHOOL AUTHORITIES AND TEACHERS WERE MADE CONSTANTLY AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CONDUCTING ACTIVITIES.

"THIS HELPS THEM TO AVOID UNNECESSARY RISKS AND REDUCES THE LIKELIHOOD OF ACCIDENTS," HE ADDED.

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