XN000022-1988-12-07 — Page 12

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1988

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STRONGER LINKS BETWEEN PARENTS AND SCHOOLS

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OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN PROMOTING AND STRENGTHENING LIAISON BETWEEN PARENTS AND SCHOOL AUTHORITIES, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON RITA FAN, MR BRIDGE SAID THE MOST SIGNIFICANT MEASURE WAS A BOOKLET ON GOOD PARENTING ISSUED IN LATE SEPTEMBER.

SUFFICIENT COPIES WERE DISTRIBUTED ΤΟ ALL PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO ENABLE ALL PARENTS TO RECEIVE A COPY FREE OF CHARGE, HE SAID.

MEMBERS OF THE AND NEW TERRITORIES

COPIES WERE ALSO MADE AVAILABLE TO INTERESTED PUBLIC THROUGH THE DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATION AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

THIS ATTRACTIVELY ILLUSTRATED BOOKLET CONTAINED PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS ON THE ROLE PARENTS SHOULD PLAY IN THE EDUCATION OF THEIR CHILDREN, HE SAID.

"FEEDBACK FROM PARENTS AND THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN VERY ENCOURAGING," MR BRIDGE SAID, ADDING THAT THE INITIAL PRINT RUN OF ONE MILLION COPIES HAD BEEN SUPPLEMENTED BY A SECOND PRINTING OF 100,000 COPIES AT A COST OF $400,000.

MR BRIDGE SAID A CIRCULAR WAS ALSO ISSUED ON SEPTEMBER 28 THIS YEAR TO PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO ACCOMPANY THE BOOKLET URGING SCHOOL HEADS TO DISCUSS THE CONTENTS WITH PARENTS DURING MEETINGS, SEMINARS, OPEN DAYS AND PARENTS' DAYS.

APPENDED TO THE CIRCULAR WAS A SPECIAL NOTE ON SCHOOL-PARENT LIAISON, SUGGESTING VARIOUS WAYS TO IMPROVE HOME-SCHOOL CONTACT AND MAINTAIN A POSITIVE DIALOGUE WITH PARENTS.

WITH

"MANY SCHOOLS HAVE ALREADY HELD MEETINGS AND GROUP SESSIONS PARENTS, BOTH ΤΟ INTRODUCE THE BOOKLET AND TO DISCUSS EDUCATIONAL ISSUES OF MUTUAL CONCERN," MR BRIDGE SAID.

DISTRICT EDUCATION

"EDUCATION DEPARTMENT INSPECTORS AND OFFICERS HAVE ACTED AS GUEST SPEAKERS AT SOME OF THESE MEETINGS.

TWO MORE BOOKLETS FOR PARENTS WERE BEING PARENTS OF KINDERGARTEN PUPILS AND THE OTHER FOR WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS, HE SAID.

PREPARED, ONE FOR PARENTS OP PUPILS

/APART FROM