XN000022-1995-07-31 — Page 3

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Professor Young paid tribute to the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Michael Leung, who will retire from the Civil Service at the end of August.

"The Commission is most grateful to Mr Leung for his inspirations and support. over the years, and we wish him a happy retirement," Professor Young said.

End/Monday, July 31, 1995

Enquiries on the Target-Oriented Curriculum

In response to press enquiries about a letter dated July 10, 1995, to heads and sponsors of schools on the Implementation of the Target-Oriented Curriculum (TOC) in 1996-97 school year, a spokesman for the Education Department said:

"The letter to sponsors of schools, copied to heads and supervisors, is a written confirmation of the points covered in the briefing for school operators held on June 30, 1995.

"In a post-seminar survey, over 83 per cent of parents of kindergarten leavers who attended briefing sessions conducted for them in March this year have indicated that they would send their children to TOC schools. Hence, the information on which schools would implement TOC in 96-97 is essential for parents before they submit their application forms for 96-97 P1 Discretionary places in mid-September 1995.

"The fact that schools are requested to indicate whether they would practise TOC in 1996-97 is a clear indication that it is not the intention of the Government to make implementation of TOC mandatory to all schools. However, it remains Government's intention that the TOC, which is meant to address major problems in our education system, as confirmed by tryout schools over the past three years, should be implemented as scheduled.

"As a huge amount of resource materials and experience have been made ready by the Department, experimental schools and the publishers, it is remains for Heads and teachers of schools to acquire hands-on experience on the effectiveness of the Initiative.