XN000022-1989-01-27 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1989

11 'THE LENGTH OF COURSES SHOULD BE FLEXIBLE AND SHOULD BE DETERMINED BY THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS THEMSELVES, IN ACCORDANCE WITH EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS, SUBJECT TO THE USUAL UPGC PROCEDURES, HB

SAID.

**

MR BRIDGE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ACCEPTED THE COMMISSION'S PROPOSAL THAT THE LENGTH OF FIRST DEGREE COURSES AT ALL UPGC-FUNDED INSTITUTIONS SHOULD IN PRINCIPLE BE THE SAME FOR THE SAME SUBJECT.

"THIS DECISION WILL BE IMPLEMENTED CAREFULLY, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE COURSE CONTENT AND MODE OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMMES IN DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS," HE STRESSED.

ΤΟ ALLOW MORE FLEXIBILITY, MR BRIDGE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD DECIDED THAT THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE UPGC, SHOULD CONSIDER ADOPTING A CREDIT UNIT SYSTEM (A SYSTEM WHERE CREDIT IS GIVEN FOR THE AMOUNT LEARNED, RATHER THAN THE TIME STUDIED).

ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PACKAGE, MR BRIDGE SAID ALL INSTITUTIONS WOULD BE GIVEN AMPLE TIME TO MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS TO AVOID UNDUE DIFFICULTY.

OF

"WE ARE PARTICULARLY CONSCIOUS OF THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, WHICH AT PRESENT TAKES MOST OF ITS STUDENTS ONE YEAR EARLIER THAN OTHER TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.

"THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY HAS MADE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO HIGHER EDUCATION IN HONG KONG OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS AND WE HAVE DECIDED TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE PERIOD OF PREPARATION AND ADJUSTMENT," HE SAID.

MR

BRIDGE EXPLAINED THAT FOR EXISTING DEGREE COURSES, CHANGES WOULD BE MADE OVER A PERIOD LASTING TO THE END OF THE 1994-1997 TRIENNIUM AND FULL CONSIDERATION WOULD BE GIVEN TO THE INDIVIDUAL DIFFICULTIES OF PARTICULAR INSTITUTIONS.

"FOR ANY NEW COURSES INTRODUCED DURING THE 1991-1994 TRIENNIUM, THE UPGC WILL TAKE FULL ACCOUNT OF THE OBJECTIVE OF HAVING A COMMON ENTRY POINT AFTER SECONDARY 7. STARTING FROM THE ACADEMIC YEAR 1994- 1995, ALL NEW COURSES WILL HAVE TO CONFORM TO THE NEW STRUCTURE, HE SAID.

MR BRIDGE ADDED THAT, BEFORE 1994, THE UPGC WOULD CONDUCT A REVIEW OF THE PROGRESS MADE AND WOULD MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT ON THE DETAILS OF THE FINAL STAGES OF IMPLEMENTATION.

ON LANGUAGE STANDARDS, HE SAID ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WOULD BE PROVIDED FOR THE REMEDIAL TEACHING OF ENGLISH AT TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.

"THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THE IMPORTANCE STANDARD OF ENGLISH OF OUR GRADUATES," HE SAID.

OF IMPROVING THE

/MR BRIDGE