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were not in school in the 12-14 age group, but, two things
were being done about this as a matter of urgency:
(a)
(b)
School places were being provided for everyone in the 12-14 age-group by 1978. Money for this was guaranteed and it would happen. But it would not
mean that all those children would necessarily be
in school but simply that the places would be there
and compulsion could then be considered; nor would it mean that everyone would be in the best kind of
school and thus,
action was in hand to ensure that by 1981 everyone
in the 12-14 age-group would be in a decent purpose-
built school.
3. In reply to a question from Mr Parry, D of E said that there was no system of education welfare officers but there
was a system of referrals which was working well. Mr Parry said that, whilst he had no facts or figures on delinquency, he felt that the major reasons for children lapsing from school was poor environment and that unless they received adequate education and welfare guidance, they could
be lost to society. D of E said that a trial study had
been undertaken in Chaiwan and this had not revealed great
bands of children running wild but it had revealed various
categories who were not bright or who had drifted into some
form of casual work and it had proved possible to help many of
these through special classes. Efforts in this direction
would continue but in any exercise directed at helping large numbers, it was always extremely difficult to deal with the last few percent. In response to a question from Sir Paul Bryan, D of E confirmed that education for the 12-14 age group
would be provided in the new towns as soon as the population
moved in as a result of the policy of putting many of the new
schools there.
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./Mr.
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