ENG-1990 — Page 185

EDUCATION

Teacher Preparation

Four Colleges of Education - Grantham, Northcote, Sir Robert Black and the Hong Kong Technical Teachers' College - train non-graduate teachers for primary and second- ary schools.

All four colleges are directly financed and staffed by the government and administered by the Education Department.

The three general colleges of education conduct initial full-time teacher education courses lasting two years for students with HKALE qualifications, and three years for students with HKCEE qualifications. Part-time in-service training courses of two or three years' duration are also offered to serving kindergarten, primary and secondary school teachers and to teachers of students with special educational needs. Retraining courses lasting five or seven weeks are offered to teachers in primary and secondary schools, and part-time courses of 12 weeks to serving assistant kindergarten teachers.

The Hong Kong Technical Teachers' College provides courses for future teachers of technical subjects in secondary and prevocational schools. A three-year full-time course is open to secondary school leavers who have studied 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 handicapped children, and for supervisors and instructors employed in industry.

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

There were 1233 students in the three-year full-time course, 1361 students in the two-year full-time course, 63 students in the Advanced Course of Teacher Education and a total of 2 323 students in the in-service training and retraining courses.

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

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 assists voluntary organisations through a subvention scheme.

Formal courses cover remedial education, second chance education and education for personal development at levels ranging from primary to post-secondary. Some courses are jointly operated with other government departments. Various teachers' courses provide opportunities for serving teachers to refresh their knowledge and skills in a variety of cultural subjects. Over 20 000 people enrolled in formal courses during the year.

Non-formal education courses cover a variety of cultural, social, recreational and educational activities to stimulate social awareness, cultivate creativity and develop in- dividual talents and skills. Nineteen Adult Education and Recreation Centres operate in various administrative districts. Numerous activities are organised with other govern- ment departments and voluntary organisations. About 28 000 people participated in these courses and activities.

Subvented courses run by voluntary agencies supplement and complement those operated by the department. In 1990-91, government subsidies were granted to 285 projects operated by 66 organisations.

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