ENG-1974 — Page 106

EDUCATION

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Construction of the Kwun Tong Technical Institute and Kwai Chung Technical Institute has started and it is expected that the target date of completion June-July 1975 will be met. Full-time and part-time day-release courses at technician and craftsman levels will be offered at these institutes. The Education Department works closely with the Hong Kong Training Council, the Hong Kong Polytechnic and other interested parties in planning courses for technical institutes. At all times, the require- ments of local industry are the major criteria in determining the nature and extent of courses offered. The institutes aim to maintain a flexibility to adapt to the changing needs of Hong Kong.

Another two technical institutes-at Cheung Sha Wan and San Po Kong- scheduled to open in 1976 and 1977 respectively, were in an advanced stage of planning.

Prevocational Schools

Expansion of the prevocational sector has continued rapidly, with the provision of a further 520 places for the session which started in September 1974, giving a total of 3,160 places in six prevocational schools.

These schools provide a three-year post-primary course which consists of about 50 per cent general education and 50 per cent practical education. Practical syllabuses usually cover three major fields of industrial or commercial activities to ensure that students are introduced to as wide a spectrum of employment as possible. Practical subjects taught include mechanical engineering, automobile servicing, printing and typesetting, building trades, home economics, commercial subjects and textile trades. Additional trades will be included in future schools to suit local requirements. Exces- sive specialisation is not encouraged at this level, the aim being to introduce basic manipulative skills and to help students choose a suitable career. On leaving a pre- vocational school, opportunities are also provided for students to continue their studies in a technical institute.

Prevocational education provides a suitable introduction to craft apprentice- ships, and considerable efforts are made to ensure that prevocational school leavers have the opportunity to enrol in recognised training schemes. Industrial acceptance of prevocational training is showing an encouraging upward trend, as the value of the link between school and industrial employment becomes appreciated.

Prevocational schools are operated with government subsidy, and are mostly located in areas of high industrial and commercial development. The existing schools are located at Wang Tau Hom, Hung Hom, Central, Cheung Chau, Tsuen Wan and Aberdeen. Future development plans include new schools at Shek Kip Mei, Kwai Chung, Sau Mau Ping, Chai Wan, Tuen Mun and Sha Tin.

Advisory Inspectorate

The Assistant Director (Chief Inspector of Schools), with the assistance of the Deputy Chief Inspector, is responsible for the work of the Advisory Inspectorate. The inspectorate's main function is the promotion of quality in the classroom. This