XN000022-1997-02-26 — Page 32

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Government committed to upgrading language proficiency

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Law Cheung-kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph WP Wong, in the Legislation Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council of:

(a)

the total number of secondary schools with self-contained "language laboratories" to facilitate language learning of students;

(b)

Reply:

(c)

Mr President,

(a)

(b)

its policy on subsidising and encouraging secondary schools to set up "language laboratories"; and

the estimated amounts of capital expenses and annual operating expenses required for the full subsidisation of all secondary schools to set up "language laboratories"?

At present, language laboratory is not a standard item to be provided by Government for secondary schools. The Education Department estimates that some 15 aided or private schools have set up such laboratories. The system configuration of the language laboratory varies between schools.

The Government is committed to upgrading students' language proficiency. Since 1982, all secondary schools are provided with the Wirefree Induction Loop System as a standard item for the enhancement of students' listening and speaking skills. The System operates by looping a wireless induction loop antenna around an area. The area can be as small as an ordinary classroom or as large as a school hall. Students wearing wireless headphones in the looped area can pick up sound emitted from a microphone, record player, radio, cassette recorder or sound projector via an amplifier which is connected to the loop

antenna.