TNAG-2921-FCO40-4196-Visits-and-proposed-visits-by-Alastair-Goodlad--Minister-of--1993 — Page 197

CONFIDENTIAL

111432 MDHIAN 7178

SECOND CHANCE DEGREE LEVEL STUDIES FOR 17,000 PEOPLE.

EDUCATION STRATEGY.

8.

FOR THE 1990'S THE GOVERNMENT HAS ADOPTED A STRATEGY OF EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TERTIARY EDUCATION AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS. THIS STRATEGY SEEKS TO PREPARE HONG KONG BETTER FOR ITS ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING CAND MAKE GOOD THE BRAIN DRAIN) AND TO ADDRESS SCHOOL PROBLEMS BROUGHT ON BY UNIVERSAL EDUCATION.

CURRENT ISSUES.

9.

THE MAJOR CURRENT CONCERNS IN THE COMMUNITY ARE:

(A) THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN THE PRE-SCHOOL SECTOR WITH EXPANSION AT THE TERTIARY LEVEL AND IMPROVEMENTS IN SCHOOLS, ATTENTION HAS FOCUSED ON WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE PLAYING A BIGGER ROLE IN THE KINDERGARTEN SECTOR. THE GOVERNMENT IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING ITS OPTION; AND

(B) THE QUALITY OF THE TEACHING FORCE THIS HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A MAJOR REVIEW. THE EXISTING TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGES WILL BE UPGRADED INTO A NEW TERTIARY LEVEL INSTITUTION BY 1994.

(C) LANGUAGE HOW HONG KONG IS IMPROVING PROFICIENCY IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE ITS POSITION AS AN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CENTRE AND AS AN IMPORTANT TRADE PARTNER AND OUTLET FOR CHINA.

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DISTRIBUTION

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PS/MR GOODLAD

MR HUM

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