ENG-1953 — Page 115

SOCIAL SERVICES

are shorter courses in shot-firing and blasting and in internal combustion engines, in which the medium of instruction is Cantonese.

There is also an engineering (preliminary) course in the evenings, which lasts for 3 years and provides a general education in English and mathematics, with some technical drawing. The aim is to enable students with a poor basic education to reach the standard necessary to enter the senior courses. Courses in arts, journalism and commerce are provided in the School of Higher Chinese Studies. Each course extends over three years, the first of which was originally intended to be common to all, and to include literature, history, English and social studies. To meet the needs of students wanting full vocational courses, however, this plan has had to be modified in regard to journalism and commerce.

Coronation celebrations covered a wide sphere of activities during the year, including a Festival of Youth, sports competi- tions, film shows and processions. A quarter of a million souvenirs were presented to school children and children not attending school.

A special effort was made to improve the standard of teachers. In addition to the normal work of the training colleges, special courses were arranged for 758 teachers, mostly unqualified. Courses ranged from short intensive periods to The two year part-time courses leading to qualified status. salaries of teachers in government-aided schools were increased.

In keeping with the development plan, enrolment increased from 168,547 in 1951, to 201,072 in 1952, and 211,041 in 1953; and expenditure from $20,840,000 in 1952, to $22,400,000 in 1953, and an estimated $31,081,918 for 1954/5.

An essential part of education policy was the provision of more and better primary education for the large number who will not go beyond that stage. Thus, 22,000 new places were provided in primary schools in the 1951-53 period.

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