EDUCATION
provides reference and support materials. The section offers a free public advisory service on local and overseas studies. During the year, about 3 222 students left to study in Britain, 2 787 left for Canada, 4 555 for the USA, and 3 109 for Australia. Exhibitions promoting overseas education were staged by British, Canadian, American and Australian organisations.
The Non-graduate Teacher Qualifications Assessment Scheme was introduced in 1992-93 to assess the qualifications and professional competence of intending teachers who obtained their qualifications and training outside Hong Kong. The assessment helps to increase the supply of qualified primary school teachers. A total of 90 candidates passed the required examinations in the 1993-94 cycle.
The Students Division of the Hong Kong Government Office in London continued to maintain close contacts with Hong Kong students and encourage them to be young ambassadors overseas. Seminars and exhibitions on Hong Kong were organised by Chinese/Hong Kong student societies in various regions of the United Kingdom. The year 1994 was the last opportunity for first year undergraduate students to apply for the UK/HK Joint Funding Scheme, which is being phased out in stages starting from the 1994-95 academic year.
Technical Education and Industrial Training
A comprehensive system of technical education and industrial training offers school- leavers an alternative to further academic study, and helps to prepare them for specific careers. Publicly-funded courses are provided in the VTC's two technical colleges, seven technical institutes, and 24 industry training centres. Separate levy-funded authorities provide industrial training for the clothing and construction industries.
Manpower needs for each sector are identified in regular surveys conducted by VTC boards and committees. During the year, 14 sectors were surveyed. Other support services to employers include help with in-house staff training schemes, out-centre training courses, the New Technology Training Scheme, training seminars, trade tests; and the publication of job specifications, trade test guidelines, training curricula, and glossaries of common technical terms.
Technical Education
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Technical education at technician level is provided by the VTC's two technical colleges at Chai Wan and Tsing Yi. These offer higher diploma or higher certificate courses in science, business administration, computing and mathematics, construction, design, electrical and communications engineering, electronic engineering, hotel catering and tourism manage- ment, manufacturing engineering and mechanical engineering. Higher diploma courses are full-time, while higher certificate courses are offered on a part-time day release and evening basis. Short courses are also offered to people in employment. In October, enrolment totalled 3 260 full-time students on 36 courses, and 1 690 day release and 4 400 evening students on 44 part-time courses.
The seven technical institutes provide technician and craft level courses in accounting, chemical technology, child care, clothing technology, commercial studies, computing, construction, design, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, environmental studies, hairdressing, hotel-keeping and tourism, manufacturing engineering, marine engineering
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