ENG-1967 — Page 126

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EDUCATION

reached the record total of 4,395, preserving the Colony's distinc- tion of having the second highest number of candidates through- out the 36 Commonwealth countries served by the Board. There were 1,528 candidates for the theory examinations and 42 for examinations of the Trinity College of Music. Children's examina- tions of the Royal Academy of Dancing attracted a record 437 entries.

Exhibitions of school children's work in art and craft have again been stimulating and impressive, and overseas their paintings continue to have widespread impact. A competition was held for the best Scene of Hong Kong, and the winners' paintings were used to publicize Hong Kong in big department stores in America. Another group of children's paintings was sent to the Lion's Club of Geneva for sale at a fair to raise funds for a children's hospital.

This year a new Department of Commercial and Industrial Design has been opened in the Technical College, marking the beginning of professional instruction in this vital new field.

PRIMARY EDUCATION

Most primary schools are Chinese, with Cantonese as the language of instruction. English is studied as a second language from the second year of the course. Five government primary schools cater for children whose normal language is English.

The total primary day school enrolment in September was 658,284 which is 103.1 per cent of the estimated number of children in the six to 11-year inclusive age group. In addition, 31,277 pupils attended primary night schools and special afternoon classes. Nevertheless, it is still possible for a child of primary school age to experience difficulty in finding a school place at fees which his parents can afford. This difficulty stems in part from the fact that many school places are occupied by over-age children. Further expansion is therefore continuing, particularly in developing areas. In new resettlement estates the 24-classroom annexe-type school has become the standard form of primary provision.

During the year 45,600 new primary places were provided, compared with 45,170 in the previous year.