ENG-1975 — Page 86

EDUCATION

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programme of overseas training for the nucleus of specialist staff in the special educa- tion section has also been expanded, as have the local in-service courses for teachers in special schools and special classes, and the courses on the needs of handicapped children for teachers in ordinary schools and for trainee-teachers at colleges of education.

There are 33 special schools for blind, deaf, physically handicapped, slow learning, and maladjusted children. In addition, there are 91 special classes for the slow learning, 19 special classes for the partially hearing, four special classes for the partially sighted, and 10 special classes for the maladjusted in ordinary government schools. There are also 77 special classes for the slow learning in ordinary aided schools. More than 500 less severely physically handicapped children have been placed in ordinary classes in government schools and government aided schools. These children are supervised regularly by officers of the special education section.

The section provides diagnostic services which include audiological testing, psychological testing, speech testing and educational assessment, as well as remedial services in auditory training and speech therapy. It also runs audiometric screening, speech screening and vision screening programmes at two special education services centres-one in Hong Kong and one in Kowloon. The Kowloon centre, at Perth Street Government Primary School, commenced operation in February. During the year the two centres dealt with more than 39,000 children.

Teachers in ordinary schools were in 1975 offered short courses on the education of handicapped children, a seminar on speech therapy in the classroom and a seminar on the teacher's role in guidance for primary school children.

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The special education section has a braille printing press operated by the Government Printer. This press produces primary Chinese textbooks and supplemen- tary readers in braille, which are supplied to schools for the blind under government subsidy at one tenth of the actual cost.

Secondary Education

There are five types' of secondary schools: Anglo-Chinese grammar schools, Chinese middle schools, secondary technical schools, secondary modern schools, and prevocational schools. The 263 Anglo-Chinese grammar day schools have an enrol- ment of 273,418 pupils. They offer a five-year course in the usual academic subjects leading to the Hong Kong Certificate of Education examination. Instruction is in English, with Chinese taught as a second language. Successful Certificate of Education candidates may enter sixth forms for two years to prepare for entrance to the Uni- versity of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, or the Polytechnic. They may also study for the General Certificate of Education at both ordinary and advanced levels. In addition, there are 54,900 pupils attending tutorial or evening classes where instruction is offered in secondary level subjects. The most popular subject is English.

The 102 Chinese middle day schools accommodate 64,119 pupils and offer a five-year course in the usual academic subjects also leading to the Hong Kong Certifi- cate of Education examination. Instruction is in Chinese, and English is taught as a