Teaching training courses and seminars for non-refugee teachers working in the closed centre schools are now organised by the UNHCR Education Co-ordinator with the assistance of the British Council. The UNHCR is considering extending such training to refugees employed as teachers.
(b) Employment of more qualified teachers
(c)
(d)
A main reason for the lack of
of qualified teachers is low salaries. An improvement via an increase in subsidy by the UNHCR or the Hong Kong Government might attract more qualified, non-refugee teachers locally as well as from
overseas.
Scholarships for selected refugee students to study in schools outside the closed centres
Recognising the difference between the academic standards in refugee schools and local schools, we believe that only a few outstanding refugee pupils would profit from attending English-speaking local schools. The practical difficulties cited in the previous options could thus be avoided.
Summer courses in local schools
be
The premises of local schools
local schools are normally vacant during the summer holiday. They can used with the consent of the schools concerned hold summer schools for refugee children and give them experience of "going
to school". The practical and political problems would be reduced because the schools would be empty.
(e) Improvement in the teaching facilities
music
room
to
Additional facilities such as a library
and laboratories, additional audio-visual aids and reference books especially in Vietnamese language would improve the quality of teaching and allow the curriculum to be
broadened.
(£) Educational and recreational outings
More outings could be organised to give experience of the outside world.
Recommendation
29
Options 1, 2 and 3 have little educational merit in themselves. The psychological benefit of giving the children a sense of "going to school" is thought to be outweighed by the inherent political and practical problems. Option 4 offers a
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