ENG-1994 — Page 199

EDUCATION

operating up to secondary level, 21 at primary level only, and 23 kindergartens. Some have received assistance from the Hong Kong Government in the form of favourable land grants and reimbursement of rates; others are sponsored by their own governments or communities. Some receive assistance from both sources. Five international secondary schools have joined the Direct Subsidy Scheme.

Teacher Education

In September, 2 721 full-time and 1 226 part-time students enrolled for the first time in the Hong Kong Institute of Education, a new autonomous tertiary institution amalgamating the four colleges of education and the Institute of Language in Education, previously managed by the Education Department.

The institute offers full-time pre-service professional training for non-graduate teachers in primary and secondary schools; in-service initial training for primary, secondary and kindergarten teachers; refresher training courses to acquaint serving teachers in primary and secondary schools with modern teaching methods and approaches; and advanced courses of teacher education for non-graduate secondary school teachers of cultural, practical and technical subjects. Full-time pre-service courses last three years for students with HKCEE qualifications, and two years for those with passes in two subjects in the HKALE.

The institute plans to develop degree-level programmes within the next few years. On full development, it will provide courses for about 5 000 full-time equivalent students.

In-service language courses for serving teachers of Chinese (including Putonghua) and English, previously offered by the Institute of Language in Education (ILE), continued to be offered by the new institute. During the year, the ILE opened a new course for teachers of content area subjects using English as the medium of instruction, and conducted seminars for teachers. In 1994, a total of 760 teachers attended full-time language courses and 802 attended part-time courses. Of these, 148 attended an extension course in the United Kingdom during the summer.

The Council on Professional Conduct in Education

In April, the Council on Professional Conduct in Education was set up as a non-statutory body to advise on measures to promote professional conduct in education, draw up operational criteria defining the conduct expected of an educator, and advise the Director of Education in cases of disputes or alleged professional misconduct. The council aims to enhance the image and professionalism of teachers and to attract more high-calibre young people to join the teaching profession.

Support Services

Teaching and learning in schools is reinforced by a wide range of services, many of them provided or supported by the Education Department.

The Advisory Inspectorate advises schools on curriculum implementation, teaching methodology and educational resources; and offers short courses, seminars and workshops for teachers. Its teaching and resource centres offer resources and advice in the areas of language, mathematics, science, social and moral education, sex education, AIDS education, environmental education and kindergarten teaching.

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