XN000022-1988-12-14 — Page 28

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1988

IN PRIMARY 1 TO 6, THE NUMBER OF GENUINE DROPOUT CASES IN 1987- 88 WAS 96. OUT OF A TOTAL OF 3,400 INVESTIGATIONS, WHILE THE ENROLMENT FOR THE YEAR STOOD AT 538,782.

IN 1986-87, THE

FIGURES WERE 109, 3,977 AND 536,347, WHILE IN 1985-86 THEY WERE 125, 5,059 AND 539,278.

"SCHOOL DROPOUTS ARE IDENTIFIED THROUGH REPORTS FROM SCHOOLS OF REFERRALS, MR BRIDGE SAID.

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"SCHOOLS ARE ADVISED THROUGH AN ANNUAL CIRCULAR TC REPORT ΤΟ THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT DETAILS OF ALL CHILDREN UNDER 15 STUDYING IN SECONDARY 3 OR BELOW WHO HAVE NOT ATTENDED SCHOOL FOR MORE THAN 14 DAYS AND TO REPORT THE ADMISSION OF ALL NEW PUPILS WITHIN 10 DAYS."

SUCH INFORMATION WAS MATCHED BY COMPUTER, THUS ENABLING DROPOUTS TO BE READILY IDENTIFIED.

A SMALL NUMBER OF NON-ATTENDANCE CASES WERE ALSO REFERRED FROM OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, HE ADDED.

"EVERY NON-ATTENDANCE

CASE IS INVESTIGATED BY A STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICER OF THE NON-ATTENDANCE CASES TEAM OF DEPARTMENT," MR BRIDGE SAID.

THE OFFICER WOULD CONTACT THE FAMILY CONCERNED TELEPHONE, FOLLOWED WHERE NECESSARY BY HOME VISITS, TO REASONS FOR THE CHILD'S ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL.

THE EDUCATION

BY LETTER AND ASCERTAIN THE

THE OFFICER WOULD ALSO EXPLAIN TO THE PARENTS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THE CHILD ATTENDED SCHOOL; PARENTS MIGHT ALSO BE INVITED TO ATTEND INTERVIEWS.

"ONLY A SMALL PROPORTION OF ALL CASES INVESTIGATED ARE GENUINE DROPOUT CASES, MR BRIDGE SAID.

"MOST CASES INVOLVE CHILDREN WHO HAVE EITHER GONE ΤΟ ANOTHER SCHOOL WHICH DID NOT REPORT THEIR ADMISSION, OR WHO ARE SUCCESSFULLY PLACED IN ANOTHER SCHOOL WITHOUT DELAY WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICER.

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A SMALL NUMBER OF CASES DID NOT REQUIRE FURTHER ACTION BECAUSE THE CHILDREN HAD RITHER GONE OVERSEAS FOR STUDY, EDIGRATED, BEEN ADMITTED TO OTHER APPROPRIATE INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS PROBATION HOMES, OR REGISTERED UNDER AN APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME, HE ADDED.

AS REGARDS GENUINE DROPOUT CASES, MR BRIDGE SAID THE ASSISTANCE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE SOUGHT, WHEN THE CHILD'S NON-ATTENDANCE WAS A RESULT OF COMPLICATED FAMILY PROBLEMS, SUCH AS FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.

/IN CASFE