ENG-1977 — Page 106

EDUCATION

61

subsidised secondary schools with a total enrolment of 8,506 offering some form of technical and trade training that does not lead to the Certificate of Education examination.

There has been a steady increase in the number of pupils enrolled in all types of day-time secondary schools. In September, there were 420,635 such students, compared with 392,808 in 1976. During the 1976-7 school year, 9,823 new secondary places were provided in new school buildings. A total of 98,143 primary school pupils sat the last Secondary School Entrance examination in May, 1977. Of these, 73,693 or 75.1 per cent were awarded government or government-aided secondary places. A further 67,409 pupils attend tutorial or evening classes, where instruction is offered in secondary-level subjects. The most popular subject is English.

There are two secondary schools for English-speaking children in the public sector one operated by the government and the other by the English Schools Foundation. To meet the increasing demand for secondary school places expected over the next few years, five new classes began operating at the Island School in Sep- tember, 1977, to form the nucleus of a new school on Hong Kong Island. These schools cater for children in the 11 to 18 age group and offer courses leading to the Certificate of Secondary Education examination or to the London General Certificate of Education O-level and A-level examinations. A few private secondary schools also offer courses suitable for English-speaking children.

Technical Institutes

Four technical institutes are run by the Education Department. They are the Morri- son Hill Technical Institute, established in 1969; the Kwai Chung and the Kwun Tong Technical Institutes, opened in September, 1975; and the Haking Wong Technical Institute at Cheung Sha Wan that started offering courses in September, 1977.

All four technical institutes are designed to provide courses at both craft and tech- nician level on a full-time, block-release, part-time day-release and evening basis. Special short courses also are offered to meet the specific requirements of industry and commerce.

The institutes offer a wide variety of courses related to the needs of major industries. These include mechanical, electrical, electronic, building and civil engineering; plastics; shipbuilding and ship repairs; automobile repairs and servicing; printing; textiles and clothing; commerce; and service industries, including hotel keeping and tourism.

The institutes maintain close links with commerce and industry, the Hong Kong Training Council, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, the Hong Kong Poly- technic and the Labour Department in an effort to design and run courses related to specific industrial developments and manufacturing techniques.

Some 21,033 students were enrolled in technical institutes in September, 1977. The maximum practical student capacity at present is 30,080.

Planning for a fifth technical institute, to be built in Kowloon Tong, is at an advanced stage and is expected to open in September, 1979. A wide range of new courses is envisaged, including aeronautical engineering, optical studies, horology, industrial and commercial design, electronic engineering, footwear technology, and heavy vehicle repairs and servicing.