ENG-1986 — Page 131

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EDUCATION

at technical institutes. Credit units are given by the institutes for technical subjects which have been studied in depth at school. In addition, direct entry into the second year of an approved craft apprenticeship may be given.

At present, there are 15 prevocational schools providing 12 048 places. A further 13 schools of this type are included in the Secondary School Building Programme.

The Junior Secondary Education Assessment (JSEA) System, which selects and allocates Form 3 leavers to Form 4 places in the public sector, completed its sixth cycle in July. Of the 73 136 students presented for assessment, 55 463 or 75.8 per cent were allocated aided places in Form 4 or one-year full-time craft courses. Of those who were allocated Form 4 places, over 85 per cent obtained places in their own schools. The working party set up to review the operation of the JSEA System and to devise a new method of placement for Form 3 leavers after 1991, presented its report to the Director of Education in February. As recommended by the Board of Education, the views of the public were sought before a final decision was reached on the recommendations embodied in the working party's report.

With a view to promoting practical/technical education for junior secondary pupils, in accordance with the government's objectives as stated in the 1978 White Paper on the Development of Senior Secondary and Tertiary Education, the first Practical Education Centre was opened in September. This centre is operated and maintained by the govern- ment. Courses offered include Design and Technology (Woodwork, Metalwork and Plastics), Home Economics (Cookery, Needlework) and Art and Design (Painting, Pottery and 3-Dimensional work). Pupils from neighbouring schools which lack either the facilities or trained staff to run the courses are encouraged to participate in the scheme and attend courses at the centre free of charge. Initially such courses will be provided for pupils at Form 1 to 3 levels and in the first year of operation, only Form 1 pupils are being admitted. These courses may be extended to Form 4 and Form 5 levels at a later date. The total maximum weekly enrolment of the centre is 9 600.

As a further step to strengthen sex education in secondary schools, a set of 'Guidelines on Sex Education in Secondary Schools' was published and distributed to all secondary schools in May. The guidelines seek to establish some guiding principles on ways to implement sex education and suggest ways to achieve this through a cross-curricular approach in secondary schools.

The Careers Education Section of the Education Department promotes the development of careers education and student guidance in secondary schools. During the year, it continued to work closely with the Labour Department and the Careers Division of the Hong Kong Association of Careers Masters and Guidance Masters to provide a compre- hensive service for young people. The section also co-operates with the Guidance Division of the association and school social workers in providing guidance services to secondary school students.

Special Education

The provision of special education continued to develop in line with the objectives of the White Paper on Rehabilitation published in 1977 and subsequent annual reviews of the Rehabilitation Programme Plan. A total of 13 846 special places for handicapped children were provided in 1986.

A total of 8 476 places for the more severely handicapped were available in 71 special schools. These schools provide special education for the blind, the deaf, the physically handicapped, the mentally handicapped, the maladjusted and socially deprived and slow-learning children. A total of 741 residential places were provided in the boarding