XN000022-1996-12-04 — Page 33

End

(b)

iii)

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The children

Some of the referrals were court cases. refused placement once they were discharged from the court;

iv)

Some parents/pupils preferred placement in practical schools as an alternative; and

v)

Some parents/pupils preferred to stay in mainstream schools.

The estimated number of children who have been assessed to have the need to attend special schools in the 1995/96 school year but have declined placement in such schools is as follows:

Category Blind

Deaf

Mildly MH

Moderately MH

Severely MH

Physically Handicapped

Hospital School

Maladjusted

Total

No.

1

7

85

13

2

9

122

239

The declined cases in the mildly mentally handicapped category are mainly due to parents' preference for integration in mainstream schools. 43 out of the 85 declined cases for the mildly handicapped are now receiving mainstream schooling while the other 42 cases are attending resource classes in ordinary schools or adjustment programmes operated by the Education Department. The reasons for the 122 declined cases in special schools for maladjusted children are as explained in paragraph (4) of part (a) above.

All declined cases are followed up by the referring workers. Those children enrolled in ordinary schools but are absent for a long time will be followed up by officers of the Non-attendance Cases Team of the Education Department should they be under the age of 15.