XN000022-1994-04-07 — Page 8

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THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 1994

"THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT ENGLISH WILL BE NEGLECTED OR THAT THE STANDARD OF ENGLISH WILL DECLINE IN THOSE SCHOOLS.

FI

INDEED THEY WILL BE PROVIDED WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, INCLUDING EXTRA TEACHERS OF ENGLISH, EXTRA TEACHING EQUIPMENT AND A SPECIAL LIBRARY GRANT - $16,000 PER SCHOOL, HE SAID.

MR

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WONG SAID THE DEPARTMENT HAD TAKEN A NUMBER OF MEASURES TO ENCOURAGE SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO TEACH IN THE MOTHER TONGUE.

THESE MEASURES INCLUDE:

* THE SETTING UP OF A CHINESE TEXTBOOKS COMMITTEE TO ENSURE THE

AVAILABILITY OF HIGH-QUALITY CHINESE LANGUAGE

TEACHING MATERIALS;

* ENHANCED TEACHER TRAINING;

* GUIDELINES ON TEACHING IN CHINESE;

* DISTRIBUTION OF GLOSSARIES OF FREQUENTLY

ENGLISH AND CHINESE FOR MAJOR SUBJECTS; AND

* REMOVING THE LANGUAGE MEDIUM INDICATOR IN

CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION.

TEXTBOOKS AND

USED TERMS IN

THE HONG KONG

IN ADDITION, A BRIDGING COURSE IS PROVIDED TO SECONDARY 6 AND SECONDARY 7 STUDENTS LEARNING IN THE CHINESE MEDIUM SO AS TO HELP THEM, IF NECESSARY, TO MEET THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT FOR ENTRY INTO TERTIARY INSTITUT (ONS.

MR WONG SAID EXPATRIATE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRACHERS COULD CONTINUE TO BE EMPLOYED TO MAINTAIN THE STANDARD OF ENGLISH.

THE SETTING UP OF THE LANGUAGE FUND WOULD ALSO HELP TO RAISE THE LANGUAGE STANDARDS OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.

"

"SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF MOTHER-TONGUE LEARNING REQUIRES SUPPORT FROM SCHOOLS, TEACHERS, PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, MR WONG SAID.

MOTHER- IN

"I CALL ON ALL CONCERNED TO ACCEPT THE ADVANTAGES OF TONGUE LEARNING IN ORDER TO HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION HONG KONG FOR THE BENEFIT OF A LARGE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

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OF

HE ADDED THAT THE DEPARTMENT WOULD LAUNCH A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN ON MOTHER-TONGUR TEACHING AND LEARNING, INCLUDING THE DISTRIBUTION POSTERS AND LEAFLETS, EXHIBITIONS AND PUBLICITY ON RADIO AND TELEVISION TO EXPLAIN THE ADVANTAGES OF MOTHER-TONGUE TEACHING.

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT'S POLICY ON MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION COMPRISES THE FOLLOWING MAIN POINTS:

* TO

ENCOURAGE SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO USE MOTHER TONGUE

AS THE

TEACHING MEDIUM;

/* TO ALLOW