XN000022-1995-12-06 — Page 19

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Reply:

Mr President,

(a) The Education Department will shortly commence a comprehensive review on the curriculum offered in prevocational schools. The review will involve staff of three divisions in the Department, namely the Curriculum Development Institute, the Advisory Inspectorate and the School Division. The review will take full account of public comments expressed on the subject. In addition, the Department will seek the views of all organisations concerned including the pre-vocational schools themselves, the Hong Kong Examinations Authority and the Vocational Training Council. The findings of the review will be submitted to the Board of Education and the Curriculum Development Council for advice before the Department puts forward firm recommendations for implementation.

(b) The review will critically examine the suitability and adequacy of the prevocational curriculum in meeting the needs of Hong Kong's changing economy and the role as well as the structure of prevocational schools in the education system vis-?- vis grammar and technical schools. The review is expected to be completed by mid 1996.

(c) The review will, among other things, result in recommendations to ensure that the curriculum offered in the pre-vocational schools will continue to meet the demands for knowledge and vocational skills of the territory's changing economy.

End

Building and demolition sites safety

Following is a question by the Hon Chan Yuen-han and a reply by the acting Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Canice Mak, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

A number of accidents involving the collapse of external walls or canopies of buildings (including existing buildings and buildings under construction or demolition) have occurred recently, causing injury and death to several workers and passers-by. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: