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Study on Vocational Training Council commissioned

The Secretary for Education and Manpower. Mr Joseph W P Wong. today (Friday) signed an agreement with a consultancy firm to conduct a comprehensive review on the working of the Vocational Training Council (VTC).

The three-month consultancy study to be steered by an inter-departmental working group led by the Education and Manpower Branch, will cover the following

areas:

* To review the systems and procedures by which VTC manages its activities to ensure that the Council's objectives can be achieved efficiently and in a cost effective manner;

* To examine the activities of VTC and advise whether they are meeting Hong Kong's needs for a comprehensive system of technical education and industrial training in the light of economic restructuring;

* To examine the contributions made by those training institutes in the private

sector to vocational education and training;

* To examine how to facilitate the transition of secondary school leavers from

school education to vocational training.

After signing the contract with Segal Quince Wicksteed (Asia) Ltd, Mr Wong said the consultancy would help map out the future direction and strategy of the vocational education and training in the years to come.

"Human resource development is of paramount importance to Hong Kong's economy. VTC, being a major provider of vocational training must ensure that its programmes are responsive to the changing needs of the economy as well as appealing to potential students and parents," added Mr Wong.

End