ENG-1984 — Page 174

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EDUCATION

filmstrips, slides, audio-cassette tapes, filmloops, overhead transparencies, learning pack- ages, picture sets and video-cassette tapes. The Media Production Services Unit is open seven days a week to all teachers for the production of teaching aids. The facilities of the unit include photographic, reprographic, graphic, model making, tape duplicating, booklet binding, picture preservation and screen printing equipment, and a microcomputer system. During the year, more than 150 courses and seminars on the use of audio-visual aids and the production of audio-visual materials were organised by the centre for over 3 000 teachers. Total attendance of teachers at the unit reached 6 000.

Cultural Crafts Centre

The Cultural Crafts Centre provides facilities for primary and secondary school teachers to update their pedagogical skills in Art and Design, Craft, and Home Economics. In 1984, about 3 500 teachers attended seminars, courses and workshops. The three exhibitions of pupils work staged by the centre attracted a total of more than 30 000 visitors.

Music

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The 80 students enrolled in the two-year pilot project for centralised music training in September 1982 sat the Certificate of Education Music Examination in May. Of these, 100 per cent passed and 40 per cent obtained grade C and above. The scheme was further expanded in September to include a class at Form 6 level to prepare students for the Higher Level Examination in Music.

The number of participants in the 36th Hong Kong Schools Music Festival rose to 60 000 with the increase coming mainly from New Territories schools. The festival ended with a series of prize-winners' concerts which were well attended.

Physical Education

The Physical Education Section is responsible for the improvement of teaching standards in physical education in schools and the promotion of school sports. In 1984, 39 courses and seminars were conducted for 957 teachers.

Some 11 300 primary and secondary students took part in swimming training schemes and life saving courses; 3 600 students participated in the 'Summer Sports Training' scheme for eight sports; 21 000 students took part in Outdoor Education Camps; and 3 850 students attended school camps in the New Territories during the summer holidays. The 20th Schools Dance Festival attracted 3 867 participants from 282 schools and was highlighted by the presence of Lady Youde, wife of the Governor, as guest of honour at the opening performance at the City Hall in April. A total of 237 students were selected to take part in the 1984 International Youth Dance Festival and Performances held in July.

The Education Department is responsible for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme in Hong Kong. During the year, 28 more schools joined the scheme, bringing the total to 145, with 23 500 student members, for whom 120 courses at various levels were organised.

The Physical Education Section continued to administer the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club Fund for the Summer Youth Programme for schools, through which some 300 000 students from 552 primary and secondary schools benefitted. In addition to taking part in the Annual Hong Kong-Macau Schools Interport Sports Competitions, the Hong Kong schools sports teams also participated in the 1st Coke-Cup Invitational Football Tourna- ment held in India in October. The Physical Education Section also assisted the Hong Kong Schools Sports Council in organising the Inter-Cities Invitational Basketball Tournament held here in December.