XN000022-1993-06-21 — Page 2

MONDAY, JUNE 21, 1993

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MEASURES TAKEN TO IMPROVE EDUCATION QUALITY

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THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING A SERIES OF SPECIFIC MEASURES IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF SCHOOLING IN HONG KONG, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR W K LAM, SAID.

THESE MEASURES FOLLOW THE NINE-YEAR FREE AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION AS WELL AS THE PROVISION OF SUBSIDISED SCHOOL PLACES TO ALL WHO WISH TO PURSUE THEIR STUDIES FURTHER, HE ADDED.

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS JOINT KINDERGARTENS GRADUATION CEREMONY AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM TODAY (MONDAY).

MR LAM SAID THE AIM WAS TO IMPROVE THE CURRICULUM AND ITS DELIVERY, PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS AT BOTH ENDS OF THE ABILITY SPECTRUM, FACILITATE THE CHOICE OF AN APPROPRIATE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION AND SET LEARNING TARGETS.

IT IS ALSO HOPED THAT THROUGH ADDING STAFF AND REDUCING CLASS SIZES AND IMPROVING THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT WITHIN SCHOOLS, THE INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION TEACHERS CAN GIVE TO PUPILS WILL INCREASE.

ABOVE ALL, A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME IS IN PLACE TO UPGRADE THE QUALITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TEACHERS THEMSELVES, THROUGH BETTER INITIAL PREPARATION, MORE FOCUSED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND A BETTER STRUCTURED CAREER PATH, MR LAM SAID.

NOT ONLY THE INITIATIVES, BUT

"THESE QUALITATIVE IMPROVEMENTS CHALLENGE GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS TO PLAN, FUND AND SUPPORT THE ALSO SCHOOL OPERATORS, PRINCIPALS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS, WITHOUT WHOSE FORBEARANCE, PARTICIPATION AND CO-OPERATION THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL DEFINITELY NOT BEAR FRUIT."

POLICY ΤΟ RATES

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ON KINDERGARTENS, MR LAM SAID IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT HELP NEEDY PARENTS TO PAY THE FEES, REIMBURSE RENT AND NON-PROFIT MAKING OPERATORS AND PROVIDE TRAINING AT NO COST то THE TEACHERS.

KINDERGARTENS,

GIVEN THE COMMUNITY'S WISH TO SEE MORE DONE FOR HE ADDED, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD KEEP AN OPEN MIND ON WHAT FURTHER MEASURES MIGHT BE INTRODUCED то ADDRESS THE CURRENT CONCERN OVER TEACHER QUALITY.

THE TUNG WAH GROUP OPERATES 48 SCHOOLS OF ALL TYPES WITH AN ENROLMENT OF MORE THAN 30,000 PUPILS, OR 2.5 PER CENT OF THE STUDENT POPULATION IN HONG KONG.

TODAY'S CEREMONY SIGNIFIED THE GRADUATION OF A TOTAL OF 1,140 KINDERGARTEN PUPILS. MR LAM SAID THESE PUPILS WOULD ENTER PRIMARY SCHOOLS "WITH SMALLER CLASSES WHICH WILL BE BETTER MANNED BY INCREASINGLY MORE QUALIFIED TEACHERS"

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