TNAG-0178-FCO40-214-Education-policy-1969 — Page 23

Science and Mathematics to meet the needs of the upper forms of secondary schools in those subjects. Part-time in-service training courses for unqualified teachers are offered by the colleges. These courses, successful completion of which confers a status of qualified teachers, are of two years' duration, but this is to be extended to three years as soon as practicable. The total number of students taking courses in all three colleges is about 2,100. Both universities provide one year full-time post-graduate courses in education and two-years part time postgraduate courses in education leading to the same qualifications.

Technical College

The Technical College is wholly maintained and operated by Government and is the principal centre for technical education in Hong Kong. It provides for a wide variety of courses from the pre-apprenticeship to Higher Diploma level. About 16,700 students attend its full-time day courses, part-time day release courses and evening courses; fees are charged. In the future it is expected to concentrate increasingly on the training of technicians and technologists, and a Technical Institute expected to be operating in early 1970 will provide training at the lower levels.

Adult Education Section

This section of the Education Department offers courses of a formal academic, a practical and a cultural nature, and organises classes for about 14,000 students.

Others

Some 21,900 students find places in private schools for adults, post-secondary schools and colleges, which vary a great deal in the nature of the courses and the quality of the instruction,

Schools/Classes for Handicapped Children

In March, 1969 about 1,400 handicapped children were being educated in special schools and classes run by voluntary organizations, private individuals and government. These include 8 schools for deaf children (2 subsidized and 6 private). 2 schools for the blind (both subsidized), 10 schools for the physically handicapped (9 subsidized and 1 private) 2 schools for mentally handicapped (subsidized) and 2 schools for spastics 1 private and 1 subsidized). In addition to these special schools the Education Department has organized 16 special classes in ordinary government primary schools for children with learning difficulties and makes provision for placement and supervision of physically handicapped children in ordinary olasses in government primary schools.

A Pre-School Speech and Hearing Centre operated by the Education Department offers screening diagnostic and therapeutic services to children with hearing impairment and speech difficulties.

All of the above special educational facilities are closely supervised by the Special Education Section of the Department which also runs one-year in-service training courses for teachers of handicapped children and directs the operation of a braille printing press for the production of textbooks for blind children.