ENG-1979 — Page 122

EDUCATION

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In conjunction with the Hong Kong Schools Sports Association and the New Territories Schools Sports Association, the Physical Education Section organises competitions in dance, gymnastics, trampolining and canoeing. The Hong Kong Schools Sports Council promotes school sports at inter-port and international levels.

During the summer, the Education Department received subventions from the govern- ment and the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club to operate a summer recreation programme for about 262,000 students.

Community Youth Club

With the aim of involving young people in various community projects, the Community Youth Club (CYC) movement has expanded in many directions since it was launched in 1977.

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The upper age group limit for membership was extended from Form 3 to Form 5 in the 1978-9 academic year and the total membership in September, 1979, was 30,000. Apart from participating in major government campaigns and community affairs in their own districts, CYC members were employed in a variety of projects relating to country parks, anti-corruption, consumer education and anti-smoking.

The CYC Secretariat began administering the Luen Yi Scheme in 1979. Under the scheme, two schools - generally an urban secondary school and a rural primary school - are paired giving them the opportunity to co-ordinate and arrange exchange visits and extra- curricular activities. Some 200 schools are participating in the scheme.

Educational Television

The Educational Television Service (ETV) programmes are produced locally, in colour, by the Education Department and Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK). The programmes, which are transmitted by the commercial television stations, 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, notes for pupils also are provided. Evaluations supplied by teachers, questionnaires, visits to schools by ETV producers and inspectors, and reports from in- spectors of the Advisory Inspectorate have resulted in many improvements to ETV since its inception in 1971.

Primary school ETV programmes cover the four basic subjects areas of Chinese, English, mathematics and social studies taught at Primary 3 to 6. Secondary school programmes are produced for Forms 1 to 3 in the same four subjects, plus science.

Beginning in mid-1979, colour television receivers were being purchased to replace, by stages, the existing black and white receivers in primary schools. In addition, these schools are also being provided with video cassette recorders. About 650 colour receivers and 380 video cassette recorders were installed in government and aided primary schools in 1979. Secondary schools already have colour receivers and video cassette recorders.

ETV's total audience during 1979 was estimated at 260,000 secondary and 360,000 primary school pupils.

Hong Kong Examinations Authority

The Hong Kong Examinations Authority, an independent statutory body, began admin- istering the Hong Kong Certificate of Education examination in 1978 and the Hong Kong Higher Level Examination in 1979. The authority will conduct the Hong Kong Advanced