XN000022-1996-12-04 — Page 31

T

29 -

September 1996

Category Blind

Capacity Enrolment

%

Waiting List**

225

150

66.7

2

Deaf

720

526

73.1

1

Mildly MH*

3040

2680

88.2

76

Moderately MH

1920

1593

83.0

69

Severely MH

776

674

86.9

14

Physically Handicapped

720

642

89.2

35

Hospital School

481

353

73.4

Maladjusted

945

479

50.7

35

Total 8827

7097

80.4

232

MH stands for Mentally Handicapped

Pupils on waiting list are due to the following reasons:

Referrals being processed by schools;

Note: *

**

(a)

(b)

(c)

Deferred admission as requested by parents; and Awaiting admission to boarding places.

It is worth noting that the enrolment situation in these schools may fluctuate in the course of the year because special schools of all categories admit students all year round and it is the present policy in special education that children with special educational needs should be integrated into ordinary schools as far and as early as possible.

The reasons for the comparatively low enrolment of below 80% in four of the above categories of special schools are summarised below:

1)

Special schools for visually impaired children:

There are only 2 special schools for visually impaired children in the territory. One caters for visually impaired children with normal intelligence while the other caters for those with mental handicap. In order to maintain the minimum class structure to cater for visually impaired children, there is a need to have two special schools for visually impaired children despite a relatively low enrolment situation.