ENG-1990 — Page 188

EDUCATION

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The Curriculum Development Council (CDC), which is serviced by the Advisory Inspectorate, continued to advise on curriculum innovations at pre-primary, primary and secondary levels as well as on special education. The general aims of education were re-examined and the school curriculum, at different levels of education, was reviewed with the aim of formulating new curriculum guides for teachers' reference. The feasibility of introducing new subjects in the secondary school curriculum was examined with a view to broadening it to cater for pupils of a wider ability range. Meanwhile, the revision of the syllabuses for Putonghua and Chinese Language at the primary level, Social Studies at the junior secondary level, and Economics at the senior secondary level was completed. A syllabus for Light Metalwork and Finishing for prevocational schools was also produced. Various subject committees were set up by the CDC to work on the development of the Advanced and Advanced Supplementary level syllabuses. The four curriculum research projects initiated by the CDC and undertaken by the Educational Research Establishment and the Advisory Inspectorate progressed smoothly.

With ongoing support from the CDC and the Advisory Inspectorate, 253 primary schools have adopted a more child-centred and less formal teaching method known as the Activity Approach.

The school-based Curriculum Project Scheme, launched in September 1988, provides grants for the development of curriculum projects catering for the specific needs of pupils in individual schools. Under the scheme, 53 curriculum projects were completed and 61 were being undertaken by educationalists including teachers, school heads, and lecturers at the colleges of education and the school/faculty of education of the universities.

Civic and Moral Education

To facilitate the strengthening of civic education, a survey on the Implementation of Civic Education in Schools was conducted in March. Findings derived from the survey are to serve as a basis for planning future programmes on civic education in schools. Twenty-one primary schools and 30 secondary schools participated in the year's Inter-school Civic Education Project Competition, the theme of which was Build Hong Kong for the Future. Teaching materials on The Political Institutions of the People's Republic of China and its Special Economic Zones; Proper Attitudes and Good Behaviour in Public Places, and a jigsaw game on Environmental Protection were published and issued to schools during the year.

To enhance distribution of information as well as exchange of ideas and experience on the promotion of moral education in schools, Moral Education Reference Materials; Religious and Ethical Education Resource Centre Catalogue 1990, and a teaching kit In Search of Values were issued to schools in 1990. An exhibition on Moral Education with the theme Being and Becoming was held from July 18 to 20, 1990.

Environmental Education

Environmental education is promoted through the teaching of relevant subjects like Social Studies and Science in primary schools, and Social Studies, Integrated Science, Economic and Public Affairs, Geography, Biology, Physics and Chemistry in secondary schools, making use of the themes and topics on environmental education which are already clearly set out in the syllabuses of these subjects. It is further supplemented by various extra- curricular activities through the informal curriculum.