TNAG-1072-FCO40-1322-Policy-of-the-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-1981 — Page 70

སམ-སམཐར

10.4

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programme was itself in any sense kept afloat so as even to approach the standards envisaged in the White Paper. His personal commitment to the College in this regard is commendable.

(b) The way in which the College actually operates is

in some respects so far removed from the Procedures set out in the documents that it was disingenuous of the College to enter the debate with CNAA being offered no more than a blueprint, and in some respects a fairly defective blueprint, at least without that being made clear in an introductory statement. The only disclaimer was that there had been little time to prepare the documents, yet that the College should go into the discussions in this way reinforces the views of CNAA set out elsewhere that, for a variety of reasons, the overall staff quality is not at a high enough standard for the level of the work which is envisaged.

(c)

(d)

(e)

Staff mobility is so high that the continuity of the academic programmes is impaired.

There would, in any event, be considerable difficulty in planning with such a mobile staff, but virtually no planning takes place except in regard to physical facilities. Academically, the College merely reacts to immediate situations.

The only example of the launching of a new course - the proposed course in Social Work -had proceeded in a way which hardly builds confidence; yet the . recommendation of the Advisory Committee was

clearly crucial in at least delaying a sub-standard course going ahead.

It would merely be destructive to give further examples of the way in which this College is struggling to offer courses having parity with those in the Polytechnic. It can and does offer a useful service to the community, and there are a number of individual cases of dedication by staff leading to a satisfactory educational experience for some students. If the College could set its sights at academic levels in line with its resources, and in a way which does not overstretch the leadership which can be provided, it may indeed uphold in Hong Kong the traditions on which it was founded. In due course, a future which offers the possibility of consolidation of its present post-sixth form education and expansion into new fields might be possible, but it seems to CNAA that it would be premature for government to make a major investment on the assumption that the College could provide the standard of education envisaged in section. 6.19 of the White Paper.

BB0/ajg/00148

11th March 1981