XN000022-1989-04-13 — Page 22

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THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1989

SUBSIDY FOR ENGINEER TRAINEES GOES UP

SCHEME HAS TRAINING

THE SUBSIDY FOR THE ENGINEERING GRADUATES TRAINING BEEN INCREASED WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1, THE VOCATIONAL COUNCIL ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY).

THE MONTHLY SUBSIDY PAID THROUGII EMPLOYERS TO EACH ENGINEERING GRADUATE AS PART OF HIS SALARY HAS GONE UP BY $200 TO $2,500.

ENGINEERING UNDERGRADUATES WHO ARE UNDERGOING AN APPROVED SANDWICH TRAINING PROGRAMME IN INDUSTRY ALSO CAN GET AN INCREASE OF $150 IN SUBSIDY FROM $1,300 TO $1,450 A MONTH, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COUNCIL SAID.

THE SCHEME, INTRODUCED IN 1983, IS ADMINISTERED BY THE COUNCIL'S COMMITTEE ON TRAINING OF TECHNOLOGISTS TO ENABLE ENGINEERING GRADUATES AND UNDERGRADUATES TO OBTAIN THE NECESSARY PRACTICAL TRAINING AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO BECOME QUALIFIED ENGINEERS.

A TOTAL OF 160 TRAINING SCHEMES FROM 111 EMPLOYERS HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE SINCE 1983.

EMPLOYERS WHO WISH TO OFFER TRAINING TO OR UNDERGRADUATES MAY CONTACT THE SECRETARY 5-8932341 EXT. 271.

ENGINEERING GRADUATES OF THE COMMITTEE ON

PRISONERS OBTAIN DISTINCTIONS IN PUBLIC EXAMINATION

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EIGHT PRISONERS WHO WORKED HARD AT THEIR STUDIES HAD PERFORMED VERY WELL IN A PUBLIC EXAMINATION IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR.

THE PRISONERS, AGED BETWEEN 25 AND 40, TOOK A TOTAL OF 20 PAPERS IN THE TELECOMMUNICATION TECHNICIAN COURSE EXAMINATION OF THE CITY AND GUILDS OF LONDON INSTITUTE AND SCORED DISTINCTIONS IN ALL THE PAPERS. AMONG THEM, TWO GOT FOUR DISTINCTIONS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (THURSDAY): "IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE DEPARTMENT'S POLICY TO ENCOURAGE AND TO ASSIST INMATES TO SIT FOR PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS.

"IN FACT, MOST OF THE INMATES WHO TOOK PART IN PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS HAD GAINED REMARKABLE RESULTS IN THE PAST, WHICH PROVED THAT OUR EFFORTS HAVE NOT BEEN WASTED."

SINCE 1979, ABOUT 900 INMATES HAD SAT FOR PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS OFFERED BY WELL-ESTABLISHED BODIES INCLUDING THE CITY AND GUILDS OF LONDON INSTITUTE, THE LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, THE PITMAN EXAMINATIONS INSTITUTE AND THE HONG KONG EXAMINATION AUTHORITY.

ABOUT 90 PER CENT OF THEM GOT FASSES IN THE EXAMINATIONS.

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