ENG-1975 — Page 104

EDUCATION

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The Evening School of Higher Chinese Studies offers a three-year general arts course leading to a diploma issued by the Education Department. The curriculum includes post-secondary level studies in Chinese literature, philosophy, sociology, and English language and literature. Classes are conducted at two centres, one on each side of the harbour.

The adult education section of the Education Department promotes informal education through 14 adult education and recreation centres in densely populated urban and rural areas. Cultural, social and recreational activities are arranged to stimulate creative ability and develop individual talents with the aim of fostering a community spirit.

The section joins with the Prisons Department to organise classes in general and practical subjects for inmates at various prisons and addiction treatment centres. Special classes are held at the Aberdeen Rehabilitation Centre in co-operation with the Social Welfare Department.

Advisory Inspectorate

The Assistant Director of Education (Chief Inspector of Schools), with the assist- ance 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 work involves frequent visits to schools by specialist advisory inspec- tors, the development of advisory services and facilities, and the provision of courses, seminars and workshops for practising teachers. It also involves the evaluation of text- books and other instructional materials, educational research and guidance, and curriculum development. Close liaison with other bodies, such as the various local examination authorities, is maintained by the Advisory Inspectorate.

In 1975 the main concern of the inspectorate was the formulation and develop- ment of a new common-core curriculum for junior secondary forms, as envisaged in the White Paper on secondary education. Provisional syllabuses were compiled by the Curriculum Development Committee for each of the subjects of the new curriculum and distributed to schools, educational publishers and other in- terested organisations. A voluntary scheme for implementing the syllabuses on a trial basis in a limited number of schools-for which special seminars and in-service training were provided-was introduced in September, after which a period of evalua- tion began. This is an on-going process involving the development of a close working relationship between the inspectors responsible for monitoring the curriculum and the schools concerned. Particular attention is being given to the development of cultural, practical and technical subjects.

An encouraging development in primary education was the wider acceptance among school authorities of the activity approach scheme introduced experimentally in 1972 by the Curriculum Development Committee. The aims of this scheme include the development of a less formal approach to learning, in which children proceed at their own pace according to their own abilities. 'Learning by doing' is the keynote of the scheme, the teacher's role being more to guide than to instruct.