ENG-1971 — Page 130

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EDUCATION

civic emphasis, and also in subjects of a practical nature, are or- ganised for inmates at different prisons. Classes are also held at the Aberdeen Rehabilitation Centre in co-operation with the Social Welfare Department.

EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION DIVISION

The Education Television (ETV) Centre was opened by the Governor, Sir David Trench, on September 6. Immediately after the opening, the service began broadcasting ETV programmes via the two commercial television networks, HK-TVB and RTV, to third year primary school children in the four basic areas of Chinese lan- guage, English language, mathematics and social studies. Initially, one programme a week in each of these subjects for a 30-week trans- mission year will be broadcast during school hours, to be repeated in both morning and afternoon sessions. The programmes are based on syllabuses in actual use in primary schools in Hong Kong and will complement and support the work of teachers in classrooms. ETV lessons are accompanied by detailed notes for teachers and pupils and presume careful preparation and application. Evaluation is supplied by teachers, school inspectors and ETV producers.

Approximately 1,000 television receivers have been installed in schools and over 100,000 third year primary school children are receiving ETV programmes.

EXAMINATIONS

In 1971 there were five local public examinations for schools, one conducted by the Education Department, one each by the Boards of the Hong Kong Certificate of Education, English and Chinese, one by the Advanced Level Examination Board of the University of Hong Kong and one by The Chinese University of Hong Kong Matricula- tion Board.

The Secondary School Entrance examination is a competitive ex- amination to select pupils for places in government and aided second- ary schools, and for assisted places in private secondary schools. It is conducted by the Education Department and an examination committee is appointed to give advice on general policy. All primary schools are invited to participate and may enter all their Primary 6 pupils for the examination. Moreover, schools that do participate are asked to send a minimum of 50 per cent of their Primary 6 enrol- ment. Scholarships for a full secondary school course are awarded on the results of the examination.