XN000022-1992-05-13 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1992

* IMPROVED LIVELIHOOD FOR THE 350,000 PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE

CORRIDOR MOST AFFECTED BY KAT TAK AIRCRAFT NOISE; AND

*

MR

REDEVELOPMENT OF THE KAI TAK SITE.

MACLEOD APPEALED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO GIVE A LEAD то THE COMMUNITY BY SHARING THE VISION OF THE FUTURE AND SUPPORTING THE ACP.

SPEECH BY SEM WHEN WINDING UP MOTION DEBATE ON PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION IN LEGCO

MR DEPUTY PRESIDENT,

I

MOTION

THE

HAVE LISTENED ATTENTIVELY TO MEMBERS' VIEWS ON THE THIS AFTERNOON. A CENTRAL THEME WHICH RUNS CONSISTENTLY THROUGH MANY CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECHES IS THAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ENABLE OUR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS TO DO A BETTER JOB.

KEEP

JUNCTURE

A

CAN READILY IDENTIFY WITH THESE SENTIMENTS. TEACHERS HAVE

ENSURING PIVOTAL ROLE TO PLAY IN THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG MINDS AND IN THE QUALITY OF THAT EDUCATION. THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNIZES THIS AND HAS INTRODUCED VARIOUS IMPROVEMENT MEASURES OVER THE YEARS TO BETTER EQUIP TEACHERS FOR THEIR MISSION. WE REALIZE THAT THESE INDIVIDUAL SOCIETY MEASURES, WHILE USEFUL IN THEMSELVES, ARE NOT ENOUGH, BECAUSE IS CONSTANTLY MOVING ON AND THE COMMUNITY'S EXPECTATIONS OF OUR TEACHERS

ON RISING. WHAT IS NEEDED AT THIS

IS A

COMPREHENSIVE

THE REVIEW OF THE FULL RANGE OF ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH PREPARATION, DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT OF THE TEACHING FORCE, INCLUDING THE VERY ITEMS LISTED IN THE MOTION BEFORE US. AND THEY ARE THOROUGHLY PRECISELY WHAT THE EDUCATION COMMISSION HAS BEEN EXAMINING OVER

PAST EIGHTEEN MONTHS. THE OUTCOME OF THE COMMISSION'S DELIBERATIONS WILL BE RELEASED IN A FEW WEEKS' TIME IN ITS FIFTH REPORT. THE EDUCATION COMMUNITY AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY

RECOMMENDATIONS AND COMMENT ON THE

OVER SUMMER, BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT DECIDES ON WHAT POLICIES TO ADOPT.

THE

WHILE THE EDUCATION COMMISSION IS STILL

FINALISE

THE

TO

WORKING HARD

TO IT'S REPORT, IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR ME

PREJUDGE ISSUES THE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS IT WILL BE MAKING ON THE VARIOUS LISTED IN THE MOTION, NOT TO MENTION THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND THE GOVERNMENT'S EVENTUAL DECISIONS ON

THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS. NEVERTHELESS, TODAY'S DEBATE DOES GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE STOCK OF WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO DATE TO MAKE THE LIFE OF A

LESS TEACHER ONEROUS, AND TO PROVIDE A CONTRAST TO THE SOMEWHAT GLOOMY PICTURE THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE TENDED TO PAINT OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

/LET ME