levels. It has 15 departments, two institutes and one school providing training in fields such as accountancy, building and surveying, business and management studies, civil and structural engineer- ing, computer science, design, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, languages, mathematics and science, mechanical and marine engineering and textile industries. The Polytechnic's full-time courses generally lead to the award of the Polytechnic Higher Diploma or Ordinary (Technician) Diploma, or to the examinations of overseas professional institutions. There are 7,000 full-time and over 18,000 part-time students.
Technical Institutes
Academic planning for all technical institutes is carried out in close co-operation with industrial organisations and the Hong Kong Training Council to ensure that the type and content of the courses are relevant to the needs of our industry.
There are five technical institutes offering craft and technician level courses in various studies including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, con- struction, marine and fabrication, textile, clothing, printing, hotel-keeping and design. These courses are operated on full-time, block release, part-time day- release and part-time evening bases. Short courses in specialised technical and commercial subjects are also provided. The institutes have a total of 3,000 full-time and 21,000 part-time students.
Secondary Technical Schools and Prevocational Schools
Technical training at a more elementary level is also provided by secondary technical schools and prevoca- tional schools.
Secondary technical schools normally provide five years of general secondary education. In addition to academic subjects, they teach technical subjects such as metalwork, woodwork, technical drawing and practical electricity for boys, and commercial subjects, home economics and pottery for girls. Some continue their studies at post-secondary level before proceeding to university, while others enrol in technical institutes or the Polytechnic. At present, over 18,000 students attend 23 secondary technical schools, 22 of which are run or subsidised by the Government.
Prevocational schools provide three-year post- primary courses consisting of about 50-60 per cent general education and 40-50 per cent technical and practical education. Excessive specialisation is not encouraged at this stage, the aim being to provide students with a foundation of general knowledge, and a broad but sound concept of technical skills upon which future vocational training may be based. It is intended that the majority of prevocational school leavers will enter apprenticeship training schemes, continuing their studies in technical institutes.
There are 13 prevocational schools, all of which are operated by private organisations and subsidised by the Government, with total of 9,000 places.
Apprenticeship
The Training Council Division of the Labour Depart- ment assists employers to organise apprenticeship training schemes so that young people receive good practical training and related theoretical education in a technical institution. About 2,500 firms in major
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industries are training some 9,000 technicians and craft apprentices under apprenticeship registered with, or attested by, the Labour Department. These appren- tices receive their technical education on a part-time day-release basis at the Hong Kong Polytechnic and at the technical institutes.
The Apprenticeship Ordinance aims to improve apprentice training and regulate the employment of apprentices in certain designated trades in the textiles, electronic and electrical appliances, tool and die- making, and mechanical engineering industries. The number of designated trades is now 37.
Under this Ordinance, an employer of young persons in a designated trade has to enter into a contract of apprenticeship which requires the employer, among other things, to allow the apprentice to attend a course of instruction at a technical institution-which may be during the normal working hours of the apprentice- and pay the fees for instruction, except when an apprentice has to repeat a course. Employers are also required to provide adequate on-the-spot training for the apprentices.
Both the Hong Kong Productivity Centre and the Hong Kong Management Association offer a wide range of courses on various management and technical subjects. Some of these courses are tailored to suit the requirements of individual clients.
Vocational courses are run by many training centres sponsored by voluntary organisations. They provide places for training in printing, mechanical fitting, com- bined mechanics, electricity, radio, air-conditioning and refrigeration, automobile mechanics and carpentry.
Statutory Training Authorities
Two statutory training authorities, one for the clothing industry and the other for the construction industry, administer training centres-the capital and recurrent costs of which have been financed from levies on those industries. The Construction Industry Training Centre provides basic craft-level training in key construction trades, while the Clothing Industry Training Centre provides training mainly for operatives.
Local technicians under training in an aircraft engineering firm.
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