ENG-1982 — Page 111

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EDUCATION

Vocational Training for the Disabled

Services provided for the disabled in technical education and vocational training continued to expand in 1982. The first vocational assessment centre capable of dealing with about 450 cases annually commenced operation in April, located in the World Rehabilitation Fund Day Centre in Kwun Tong.

At the same time, the training capacity of the day centre increased from 204 to 288 places. During the year, as a follow-up to a 1981 visit, two one-month missions were undertaken separately by two International Labour Organisation experts to assist in the develop- ment of vocational assessment service and training programme designs. In the technical education area, a total of 50 disabled students were enrolled in various courses offered by the technical institutes. The Technical Education and Industrial Training Department also assumed responsibility for subventing vocational training centres some with residential facilities operated by private non-profit-making organisations. Together, these centres provide 212 training places for the disabled.

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Post-Secondary Education

There are three post-secondary colleges the Hong Kong Baptist College, the Hong Kong Shue Yan College and Lingnan College - registered under the Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance.

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The Hong Kong Baptist College, registered in 1970, has four faculties - arts, business, social sciences, and natural sciences and engineering - and has a total enrolment of 2 941 students. The Hong Kong Shue Yan College, registered in 1976, has three faculties - arts, social sciences and commerce. The college has 13 departments offering day and evening courses with an enrolment of 3 496 students. Lingnan College, registered in October 1978, has three faculties arts, business and music - and an enrolment of 940 students.

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Various student grant and interest-free loan schemes are made available by the government to post-sixth form students at these registered post-secondary colleges.

In 1979, the Hong Kong Baptist College and Lingnan College revised their course structure in line with proposals set out in the 1978 White Paper on the Development of Senior Secondary and Tertiary Education. Under this arrangement, the colleges offer two years of sixth-form study, two years of post-sixth form study, and a fifth year of post-sixth form end-on courses. The government provides financial assistance for the first four years of study at both colleges. The Hong Kong Shue Yan College, which opted not to restructure its courses, continues to operate its four-year diploma programme without government financial assistance.

Following assessments of the Hong Kong Baptist College, made by the United Kingdom Council for National Academic Awards in 1981, the government has extended financial assistance to the fifth year end-on course at the college. Furthermore, the University and Polytechnic Grants Committee (UPGC) will advise on the financing of post-sixth form courses at the college beginning in 1983-4.

In addition to the approved post-secondary colleges, a number of private day and evening schools offer post-secondary courses of varying standards. They are registered under the Education Ordinance. None of these institutions receives aid from the government.

Higher Education

The two universities and the polytechnic are important in providing opportunities for school leavers to continue their education and to contribute to Hong Kong's economic and social well-being. Education at this level is expensive and, in deciding the scope and