XN000022-1994-07-11 — Page 3

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MONDAY, JULY 11, 1994

WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDS 28 LANGUAGE IMPROVEMENT MEASURES

BETTER CO-ORDINATION OF LANGUAGE POLICIES, MORE LOCAL RESEARCH ON LANGUAGE IN EDUCATION, AND IMPROVED LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES ARE PROPOSED IN A REPORT BY THE EDUCATION COMMISSION'S WORKING GROUP ON LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY PUBLISHED TODAY (MONDAY) FOR

THREE-MONTH PERIOD OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION.

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"THE REPORT ANALYSES HONG KONG'S PRESENT LANGUAGE SITUATION DETAIL, AND MAKES 28 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SHORT TERM AND LONG IMPROVEMENTS, THE WORKING GROUP CHAIRMAN, MRS ANGELA CHEUNG, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO LAUNCH THE REPORT.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN GROUPED UNDER SEVEN HEADINGS:

POLICY FORMULATION AND CO-ORDINATION;

LANGUAGE GOALS AND RELATED AREAS;

LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES,

MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION;

SUPPORT SERVICES FOR LANGUAGE IN EDUCATION:

SCHOOL STAFFING; AND

TEACHER EDUCATION.

POLICY FORMULATION AND CO-ORDINATION

IN

TERM

SAID

WAYS TO

"THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR MORE SYSTEMATIC FORMULATE LANGUAGE POLICIES, AND TO CO-ORDINATE LANGUAGE-IN-EDUCATION ACTIVITIES, MRS CHEUNG SAID.

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'WE THEREFORE RECOMMEND THAT A NEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHOULD BE CREATED, UNDER THE EDUCATION. COMMISSION, TO FOCUS ON LANGUAGE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH,

"WE ALSO RECOMMEND THAT A CENTRE FOR LANGUAGE-IN-EDUCATION SHOULD BE CREATED IN A LOCAL TERTIARY INSTITUTION, TO UNDERTAKE POLICY RELATED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.

"WE WANT TO SEE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND SUPPORT SERVICES GIVE MORE ATTENTION TO LANGUAGE IN EDUCATION, BY DESIGNATING MEMBERS OF STAFF AS LANGUAGE CO-ORDINATORS.

SPECIFIC

AS

"WE PROPOSE THAT EVERY SCHOOL DESIGNATE AN EXPERIENCED LANGUAGE ACROSS THE CURRICULUM

TEACHER

CO-ORDINATOR.

"SIMILAR RESPONSIBILITIES SHOULD COLLEGES AND INSTITUTES, TEACHER TRAINING CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE.

BE DEFINED IN

INSTITUTIONS,

TECHNICAL

AND

THE

/LANGUAGE GOALS