XN000022-1995-11-02 — Page 46

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This was stated by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph W P Wong, today (Thursday) when he spoke at the resumed debate on the Motion of Thanks on the Governor's Policy Address.

Mr Wong said he noted that concern had been raised about insufficient number of primary graduate posts to meet the Education Commission Report No. 5 target of such posts which represented 35 per cent of all primary teacher posts by the year 2007.

He said the Government, recognising the importance of provision of graduate posts, had provided 360 posts in the past two years and another 300 would be provided in 1996-97.

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"The 35 per cent target was accepted by the Government as a planning target. The Working Group under the Education and Manpower Branch will assess this target having regard to the impact of the scheme on the quality of primary education so far, the future development of primary education, as well as the financial implications involved and make recommendations on the rate of provision for the medium term,' he said.

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Mr Wong also pointed out that it was only one of the many measures the Government had taken to raise the quality of primary school education. Other measures include:

* provision of additional teachers to both primary and secondary schools to reduce class sizes, The Government has provided over 2,000 additional teachers and reduced the ratio of pupils to teachers to 24 in primary and 20 in secondary schools two years ahead of schedule;

* introduction of special measures to assist the lower achievers and the less

motivated;

commencement of a massive programme to improve the teaching and learning environment of our schools;

* establishment of the Hong Kong Institute of Education to upgrade teacher

education and standards;

* introduction or re-inforcement of a series of other measures such as promotion of Chinese as medium of instruction, diversification of the school curriculum, and introduction of the School Management Initiative and Target Oriented Curriculum.

End/Thursday, November 2, 1995

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