ENG-1987 — Page 155

EDUCATION

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The three general colleges of education conduct initial full-time teacher-training courses of two years' duration for students possessing the required Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination qualification, and of three years' duration for students with the required Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination qualification. Part-time in-service training courses of two or three years' duration are also offered to serving kindergarten, primary and secondary teachers and to teachers of students with special educational needs; retraining courses of seven or eight weeks' duration to teachers in primary and secondary schools and part-time courses of 12 weeks' duration for serving assistant kindergarten teachers.

Technical teacher training is offered by the HKTTC for future teachers of technical subjects in secondary and prevocational schools. A one-year full-time course is available to mature students who are well qualified in a technical field and wish to take up technical teaching as a career. Grants are offered to attract suitable recruits. A three-year full-time course is open to secondary school leavers who have prior studies in either technical or commercial subjects. The college also offers in-service courses for teachers and lecturers in the technical institutes as well as a variety of short courses for instructors working with the handicapped, and for supervisors and instructors employed in industry.

All four colleges also offer a one-year full-time Advanced Course of Teacher Education in cultural, practical and technical subjects.

In October, there were 1 248 students in the three-year full-time course, 1 052 students in the two-year full-time course, 12 students in the one-year full-time course, 123 students in the Advanced Course of Teacher Education and a total of 2 559 students in the in-service training and retraining courses.

Financial assistance in the form of interest-free loans and maintenance grants is provided by the government for students enrolled in the full-time courses at the four colleges.

Basic training courses in educational management for heads of schools in the public sector are provided by the Training Unit of the department. During the year, 40 newly- appointed primary school heads in two groups attended a 10-day management course, 120 experienced primary school heads in six groups attended a seven-day management course, while 18 secondary school heads attended a nine-day management course and 54 secondary school heads in three groups attended a six-day management development course. A four-day management course for 20 senior teachers in secondary schools was conducted for the first time. Various seminars and short courses for professional officers and induction and basic training courses for new recruits of the department were also offered.

D

Adult Education

The Adult Education Section of the Education Department provides formal and non- formal education in the evening through a number of courses and activities and a subvention scheme for voluntary organisations.

The formal education courses ranging from primary to secondary and post-secondary studies were offered in 45 centres. The Adult Education Course (General Background), offering Chinese, English, Mathematics and Social Studies, provided free primary educa- tion for educationally deprived adults to acquire the skills of reading, writing and numeracy. Some classes were jointly operated with the Correctional Services Department, Social Welfare Department and Urban Services Department. At the secondary level, the Secondary School Course and Government Evening Secondary School Course, operating in both Chinese and English Sections, offered arts and science subjects for adults and