XN000022-1992-10-02 — Page 13

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1992

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U.S. EXPERT TO ADVISE ON STUDENT PROBLEMS

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS INVITED A MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION EXPERT FROM THE U.S. TO GIVE ADVICE ON WAYS TO HANDLE STUDENT PROBLEMS.

THE EXPERT, MISS DIANE RYERSON, WOULD ARRIVE LATER THIS MONTH TO CONDUCT SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS FOR STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT AND SCHOOL PRINCIPALS ON HOW TO HANDLE STUDENT PROBLEMS.

THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR DOMINIC S W WONG, HOPED THAT THIS WOULD HELP REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TRAGIC INCIDENTS INVOLVING STUDENTS.

SPEAKING AT A PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY ESSAY COMPETITION, MR WONG SAID THE DEPARTMENT WAS NOW ACTIVELY PROMOTING THE CONCEPT OF THE WHOLE-SCHOOL APPROACH TO GUIDANCE.

"THIS MEANS THAT THE WHOLE SCHOOL, WHETHER PRIMARY OR SECONDARY, THEIR TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND PARENTS WILL BE MOTIVATED ΤΟ BETTER UNDERSTAND ONE ANOTHER'S ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AND STUDENTS' PROBLEMS IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE," HE SAID.

LEARNING AND

HE SAID THIS WOULD CREATE A MORE CARING AND POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS, ENABLE EARLY SOLVING OF THE PROBLEMS PROMOTE HOME-SCHOOL CO-OPERATION.

THE IN

"I BELIEVE THAT THIS APPROACH WILL USEFULLY COMPLEMENT SERIES OF PREVENTIVE MEASURES PROMOTED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT THE PAST YEAR FOLLOWING THE COMMUNITY'S CONCERN OVER THE INCREASE IN STUDENT SUICIDE ATTEMPTS," MR WONG ADDED.

AS A FURTHER MEASURE, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD ORGANISE A SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS ON THE WHOLE-SCHOOL APPROACH, HE SAID.

THE HONG KONG CONTEST OF THE ESSAY COMPETITION WAS SPONSORED BY THE ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY IN HONG KONG AND THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

THIS ANNUAL COMPETITION, WHICH HAS BEGUN SINCE 1913, ATTRACTED 156 STUDENTS FROM 21 SCHOOLS THIS YEAR.

MR WONG SAID THE RESPONSE CLEARLY REFLECTED THE ENTHUSIASM AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE TO DEVELOP IDEAS OF THEIR OWN, ΤΟ SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH OTHERS AND TO EXERCISE THEIR LITERARY SKILLS IN ENGLISH WHICH WAS A SECOND LANGUAGE TO MOST OF HONG KONG PEOPLE.

WINNERS WERE AWARDED BOOK PRIZES RANGING FROM $200 TO $1,350.

THE HIGHEST AWARD THE ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY IN HONG KONG WENT TO MISS MARY HO WING FONG OF SACRED HEART CANOSSIAN APART FROM HER $1,350 BOOK PRIZE, SHE EARNED A ROUND TRIP

m

AWARD COLLEGE.

TO KUALA LUMPUR.

ALSO PRESENTING PRIZES TO THE WINNERS WERE THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MR HARRY GARLICK AND REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY IN HONG KONG, DR VERNER BICKLEY.

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