ENG-1972 — Page 110

EDUCATION

Music and Art in Schools

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The 24th Annual Schools Music and Speech Festival attracted a record response of 9,035 entries. Over 50,000 competitors took part in 416 available classes.

The annual practical examinations of the Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music attracted 5,208 candidates and 2,073 candidates entered for the theory examinations. A Hong Kong candidate was again awarded the annual scholarship awarded jointly to India and Hong Kong valued at $30,000 and tenable for three years at the Royal College of Music, London, for the 12th successive year.

A total of 94 candidates entered for the examinations of the Trinity College of Music and 600 ballet students took part in the Royal Academy of Dancing Examina- tions.

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The Hong Kong Youth Orchestra presented five concerts during the year, two of which were in the New Territories and two in Macau. The fifth featured the orchestra with the Combined Christian Choir in a performance of Handel's 'Messiah'.

Art and craft courses in new techniques and teaching methods for primary and secondary school teachers were run by the Education Department during the year. Hong Kong children won many prizes in art competitions and exhibitions in West Germany (in connection with the Olympic Games), in Britain and in Finland.

Recreation

The recreational activities programme of the Physical Education Section of the department continues to increase in scope and in the number of participants. The year-round programme for schools includes games competitions in all major sports, gymnastics and dance competitions, sailing and a comprehensive outdoor programme of canoeing and camping. Hong Kong Schools were represented during the year in three Asian international schools tournaments-swimming in Thailand and football and basketball in Singapore.

The promotion of physical recreation activities for the physically handicapped is now pursued throughout the year in training and coaching programmes culminating in an annual paraplegic sports day. During the year, the Outward Bound School held a course for the physically handicapped and this was a further extension of the pro- gramme now being developed throughout Hong Kong for the physically handicapped.

The department has become an operating authority for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme in Hong Kong and promotes the scheme in schools. At present just over 2,000 schoolchildren are participating in this scheme.

The summer vacation programme continues to cater for over 500,000 school- children. Two of the main features this year were a camp for 700 girls held at Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village and the Education Department's 'learn-to-swim' campaign. This campaign provided a series of 12 one-hour swimming lessons for over 3,000 schoolchildren and was an extremely popular and successful programme.