ENG-1976 — Page 113

EDUCATION

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filmstrips, slides, audio recordings, photographs, 8 mm loop films, overhead projector transparencies, multi-media learning packages and other audio-visual equipment. A total of 39,897 items were borrowed in 1976.

The centre works closely with the inspectorate's subject advisers in the prepara- tion of instructional materials for use in curriculum development projects and for general classroom use. An ‘Audio-Visual News Bulletin' with a circulation of 2,000 is published quarterly for distribution to schools and other educational institutions. The self-service media production services unit in Kowloon provides apparatus and staff to help teachers to design and produce simple resource materials for specific classroom needs.

Some 1,800 teachers, student-teachers and training officers attended various courses, workshops and organised visits run by the centre in 1976. A major event was an educational media exhibition and seminar organised by the Audio-Visual Educa- tion Committee.

Educational Television

The Educational Television Service (ETV) extended its programmes to secondary schools as well as primary schools for the first time in September 1976. It was also the first appearance of colour television in Hong Kong schools-all the new pro- grammes are in colour. About 260 video cassette recorders and 280 colour receivers were installed in secondary schools at a cost of about $2.5 million in order to facilitate time-tabling and reception. It is estimated that more than 80,000 Form I pupils see the programmes, which will be extended to Form II in 1978 and Form III in 1979. They cover the same four basic subjects as the programmes put out to primary schools-Chinese language, English language, mathematics and social studies—and a fifth subject, science, will be added in 1978. The total audience in primary schools is about 400,000 children and 10,000 teachers. Since the beginning of ETV in 1971, more than 3,000 television receivers have been installed in primary schools at a cost of about $5 million.

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ETV programmes are produced locally by the Education Department and Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) and are transmitted by the three commercial tele- vision stations between 8 am and 6 pm Monday to Friday. They are based on syllabuses used in primary and secondary schools and are designed to complement classroom teaching. Notes for teachers suggest preparation and follow-up activities and, in the case of primary school programmes, pupils' notes are also provided. Evaluation is supplied by teachers and through questionnaires, visits to schools by ETV producers, and reports from inspectors of schools.

Music

During the year more than 600 primary and secondary school teachers attended seminars and refresher courses organised by the music section of the Education Department.