XN000022-1992-04-27 — Page 5

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 1992

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(6) BROADENING OF SIXTH FORM CURRICULUM AND PROVISION OF NEW SUBJECTS IN DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY, ART AND DESIGN AND HOME ECONOMICS:

THE SIXTH FORM CURRICULUM HAS BEEN BROADENED CONSIDERABLY THROUGH THE INTRODUCTION OF ADVANCED SUPPLEMENTARY (AS) LEVEL SUBJECTS THIS YEAR. ART AND DESIGN IS ALREADY AVAILABLE AT ADVANCED-LEVEL AND AS-LEVEL, DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY WILL BE AVAILABLE AT AS-LEVEL IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR. HOME ECONOMICS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR INTRODUCTION IN 1994.

THIS YEAR:

(7) PROPORTION

OF TRAINED GRADUATE TEACHER TO REACH 72%

BY

THE EDUCATION COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATION WAS TO EXPAND THE CAPACITY OF THE POST-GRADUATE DIPLOMA AND CERTIFICATE IN EDUCATION COURSES AT UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG AND CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG TO ENABLE 80% OF GRADUATE TEACHERS TO BE FULLY TRAINED BY 1994. THE NECESSARY NUMBER OF PLACES ARE BEING PROVIDED IN THE 1992/95 TRIENNIUM. PRESENT RATIO IS 69.5% BUT IT IS TOO EARLY TO SAY THAT THE TARGET CANNOT BE MET.

(8) INTRODUCTION OF PART-TIME DEGREE COURSES ON PRACTICAL, TECHNICAL AND CULTURAL SUBJECTS:

THE CUHK AND THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC NOW OFFER PART- TIME DEGREE COURSES IN MUSIC AND ART & DESIGN. A COURSE IN DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY IS UNDER CONSIDERATION.

(D) REPORT NO. 1

ALTHOUGH A NEW COLLEGE OF EDUCATION WAS PROPOSED, NO FIRM TIMING WAS SPECIFIED. THE GOVERNMENT AT THAT TIME TOOK THE VIEW THAT THE NEED FOR AN ADDITIONAL COLLEGE SHOULD BE ASSESSED TAKING INTO ACCOUNT DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS AND THE RESULTANT DEMAND FOR FEWER TEACHERS. THIS QUESTION WILL BE COVERED IN THE EDUCATION COMMISSION'S FIFTH REPORT.

IN THE LIGHT OF THESE FACTS, THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN DESCRIBED THE EDUCATION ACTION GROUP'S ALLEGATIONS AS MISLEADING

OVER-SIMPLISTIC.

AND

HE HOPED THAT THOSE WHO WORK IN EDUCATION AND THE WIDER COMMUNITY WOULD BE AWARE OF WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE ON IMPROVEMENTS RECOMMENDED BY THE EDUCATION COMMISSION.

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