ENG-1975 — Page 102

EDUCATION

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and science; mechanical and marine engineering; production and industrial engineer- ing; nautical studies; and textile industries.

The Polytechnic offers two-year full-time courses leading to the technician or ordinary diploma; three-year full-time courses leading to the higher diploma; and one-year full-time post-higher diploma courses leading to the award of Associateship of the Hong Kong Polytechnic, AP (HK). Also offered are part-time day-release and sandwich courses of various durations, and many part-time evening courses leading to the higher, ordinary or technician certificates or other qualifications in a wide range of technical and commercial subjects at professional and technician levels.

To satisfy the minimum entrance requirements to full-time courses, candidates are expected to have gained the Hong Kong Certificate of Education or an equivalent qualification. They must also satisfy any additional requirements for admission into the particular courses for which they apply.

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A number of British professional institutions have granted exemptions from certain parts of their examinations to holders of Polytechnic higher diplomas. Six associateship courses were offered in 1975-6: electrical, electronic, mechanical, pro- duction, structural engineering, and textile technology.

Short full-time and part-time courses preparing candidates for professional examinations are organised throughout the year. These include qualifications approv- ed by the British Department of Trade and Industry for marine engineers, mates and masters. Whenever there is a need for instruction in specific subjects of current interest to local commerce and industry, or to a sufficient number of individuals, the Polytechnic tries to offer short courses to meet the demand. Those in the fields of accountancy, building technology, radar operation, and textile studies have proved particularly popular during the year.

Teachers and Teacher Education

In March 1975 there were 36,964 full-time and part-time teachers employed in government and registered day schools-including 8,529 university graduates and 18,398 non-graduates qualified for teaching. Other teachers were engaged in tutorial evening classes and 253 were in special schools. At the end of the 1974-5 school year, the ratio of pupils to teachers was 32.2 in primary day schools and 30.4 in secondary day schools.

Except for technical teacher training, teacher education is provided at the Educa- tion Department's three colleges of education-Grantham, Northcote and Sir Robert Black. All three colleges offer full-time two-year courses designed to produce non- graduate teachers qualified for primary schools and lower forms of secondary schools. Part-time courses are also provided to train practising teachers.

The third-year courses in the three colleges have been expanded to cover several new subjects and enrolments have been enlarged. This is aimed at raising the standards of such teachers and preparing them to teach the new curriculum in junior secondary forms. In addition to the various specialist courses already available, these general