ENG-1975 — Page 106

EDUCATION

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and 10,000 teachers. Since the opening of the ETV service in 1971, more than 3,000 television receivers have been installed in primary schools at a total cost of about $5 million.

ETV programmes are produced in the ETV Centre at Broadcast Drive, Kowloon, and transmitted by the three commercial television stations between 8 am and 6 pm Monday to Friday. They are based on syllabuses in use in primary schools and are designed to complement and supplement classroom teaching. Notes for teachers and pupils accompany each programme and demand careful preparation and follow-up. Evaluation is supplied by teachers, questionnaires, visits to schools by ETV producers, and reports for inspectors of schools.

Visual Education Centre

The Visual Education Centre of the Education Department provides a variety of audio-visual media services for schools. The film library includes 16mm films, 35mm filmstrips, slides, recorded tapes, photographs, 8mm loop films, and overhead projector transparencies.

The product design unit works closely with the Advisory Inspectorate in the preparation of colour slide sets, black and white photographs, transparencies, and 8mm loop films for use on curriculum development projects and for general class- room use. The centre also maintains a selection, evaluation and ordering programme for audio-visual media to be on loan to schools and recommends media equipment to be purchased by schools.

Visits to the centre are held each year for student teachers from the three govern- ment colleges of education and the two universities. In-service training programmes on the use of audio-visual media are conducted for teachers and training officers.

The media production services unit in Kowloon provides space, apparatus and staff to help teachers to design and produce simple resource materials which are not otherwise available to suit specific classroom needs. More than 1,000 teachers used or visited the unit during the year.

Music

The 27th Hong Kong Schools Music Festival attracted 28,925 competitors. There were 222 classes. Five prize-winner concerts were given before capacity audiences at the City Hall.

Some 350 children took part in the one-week summer orchestral course run by the music section of the Education Department. The course was open to all young players of elementary and intermediate standards. The Hong Kong Youth Orchestra held a two-week intensive training course in July, culminating in a public performance at the City Hall.

The annual practical examinations of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music attracted 6,757 candidates, and 1,594 candidates sat for the theory examina- tions. There were 58 candidates for the examinations of the Trinity College of Music and 868 ballet students took part in the Royal Academy of Dancing Examinations.