XN000022-1987-12-09 — Page 25

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1987

FUNDS APPROVED FOR SETTING UP OLI PLANNING COMMITTEE

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPROVED THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PLANNING COMMITTER FOR THE OPEN LEARNING INSTITUTE OF HONG KONG (OLI) AT ITS MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

AND ITS

THE OPERATING COSTS OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE SECRETARIAT ARE ESTIMATED AT $10.4 MILLION PHASED OVER THREE YEARS FROM 1987-88 TO 1989-90.

THE PLANNING COMMITTEE WILL COMPRISE A PROMINENT LOCAL FIGURE AS CHAIRMAN, FIVE TO SIX REPRESENTATIVES OF INSTITUTIONS FUNDED BY THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE, THREE REPRESENTATIVES OF OVERSEAS INSTITUTIONS, SIX OVERSEAS ACADEMICS, SIX LOCAL LAY MEMBERS AND ONE SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICER.

ITS TASKS WILL BE TO ESTABLISH THE PRINCIPAL AREAS OF DEMAND AND NEED FOR OPEN EDUCATION COURSES; TO ESTABLISH THE AVAILABILITY OF CONTRIBUTORY EFFORT FROM PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS; TO ASSESS THE AVAILABILITY OF COURSE MATERIAL FROM OVERSEAS; AND TO PRODUCE A DETAILED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, INCLUDING ADVICE ON THE FUTURE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OLI'S OWN PROGRAMME AND THE EXTRA-MURAL AND PART-TIME COURSES RUN BY EXISTING INSTITUTIONS.

A SECRETARIAT WILL ALSO BE SET UP IMMEDIATELY EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE THE PLANNING COMMITTEE.

WITHIN THE SUPPORT TO

THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO SET UP THE OLI PLANNING COMMITTEE WAS MADE PUBLIC ON OCTOBER 7 IN THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF THE 1987-88 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION, WITH AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT OLI WOULD ADMIT ITS FIRST STUDENTS IN 1989.

THIS DECISION FOLLOWED CONSIDERATION OF THE EDUCATION COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THERE WAS A PRIMA FACIE CASE FOR AN OPEN EDUCATION PROGRAMME TO SUPPLEMENT COVENTIONAL EDUCATION AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE DENIRD FROM THEM.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN COMMENTED THAT ALTHOUGH SOME TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS PROVIDED EXTRA-MURAL COURSES AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND SOME VOLUNTARY AGENCIES OPERATED ADULT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES, HONG KONG LAGGED FAR BEHIND MANY DEVELOPED COUNTRIES AND NEWLY INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRIES.

"THE NEED FOR AN OPEN EDUCATION PROGRAMME IS PARTICULARY GREAT IN HONG KONG WHERE MORE THAN 60 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION OVER THE AGE OF 25 HAVE RECEIVED EDUCATION ONLY UP TO PRIMARY LEVEL OR BELOW.

"THERE IS AN ACUTE SHORTAGE OF TERTIARY PLACES AND THE REQUIREMENT FOR FLEXIBLE AND COST-EFFECTIVE MEANS OF ENHANCING THE SKILL OF WORKERS AND MANAGERS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES IS CONSTANTLY GROWING, HE SAID.

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