XN000022-1994-01-14 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 14, 1994

APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED AFTER THE DEADLINE MIGHT ONLY BE CONSIDERED SHOULD THERE, STILL BE FUNDS AVAILABLE, SHE SAID.

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APPLICATION FORMS AND INFORMATION LEAFLETS INTRODUCING ADDITIONAL FUNDING CAN BE OBTAINED FORM THE ITDC SECRETARIAT IN 1445, 14TH FLOOR, OCEAN CENTRE, 5 CANTON ROAD, KOWLOON. NO APPLICATION FEES WILL BE CHARGED.

730 4633.

ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE BY TELEPHONING 737 2206 OR BY FAX

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TEACHERS AT THE HEART OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

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TEACHERS ARE AT THE HEART OF EDUCATION SYSTEM, THE DIRECTOR EDUCATION, MR DOMINIC S W WONG, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

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"THEIR KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING, TEACHING SKILLS, ATTITUDE AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ALL HAVE DIRECT INFLUENCES ON STUDENTS, WONG POINTED OUT.

MR

SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL SPEECH DAY OF ST PAUL'S CO-EDUCATIONAL COLLEGE, НЕ EXPLAINED THAT TEACHERS WERE THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN DETERMINING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION GENERALLY AND WITHIN EACH SCHOOL.

THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THIS AND EXPLAINED THAT VARIOUS IMPROVEMENT MEASURES HAD ALREADY BEEN TAKEN IN THE PAST 10 YEARS,

MR

WONG STRESSED.

"THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW TAKING FURTHER ACTION TO RAISE TEACHING

STANDARDS.

"A NEW HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION IS BEING PLANNED ΤΟ COMMENCE OPERATION IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, CONSTITUTED BY THE MERGER OF THE EXISTING FIVE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION AND WITH THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF UPGRADING THE QUALITY OF TEACHER EDUCATION AND THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS, HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THE WORKLOAD OF TEACHERS AND THE NEED FOR THEM TO DEVOTE GREATER ATTENTION TO INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS.. IMPROVEMENT MEASURES TAKEN INCLUDE:

CLASS SIZE

SINCE LAST SEPTEMBER THE CLASS SIZE IN ORDINARY SCHOOLS WAS REDUCED FROM 40 TO 35 PUPILS, STARTING WITH PRIMARY 1 AND EXTENDING TO HIGHER LEVELS A YEAR AT A TIME.

TEACHERS

PRIMARY SCHOOLS WERE GIVEN MORE TEACHERS AT THE RATE MORE EACH YEAR UP TO A MAXIMUM INCREASE OF THREE.

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