TNAG-1073-FCO40-1323-Policy-of-the-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-including-1981 — Page 422

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basis of an I.Q. level, to be abandoned, the

objective now being to provide education and

training for all mentally retarded persons,

irrespective of the degree of retardation: this

would be the responsibility of the Education

Department, assuming responsibility from 1st

April 1978 for subventing those voluntary

organisations providing education and training

for the mentally retarded;

(v) the number of special education places to be

increased from 12,165 to 50,800 by 1985-86:

hence the need for an increased output of staff

at pre-school, primary, secondary, tertiary,

prevocational and vocational levels; all existing

methods of training therefore to be expanded, and

consideration to be given to the establishment of

a full-time training course for special education

teachers and of courses in Hong Kong on specialised

subjects for which training was at present only

available overseas;

(vi) pre-school education to be developed in two ways:

nurseries to be encouraged to accent children with

minor disabilities, and special pre-school training

facilities to be provided for those unable to benefit

from pre-school training in an ordinary setting (staff

training to be provided together with financial assistance

for the physical alteration of premises this would entail);

(vii) the Education Department to provide special training

for staff employed in children's training centres run

by the Social Welfare Department and by voluntary

organisations; the adequacy of facilities at such