ENG-1994 — Page 203

EDUCATION

The New Technology Training Scheme provides matching grants to companies wanting to help their staff to acquire skills in new technologies. During the year, 169 applications were approved.

Apprenticeship Schemes

The Apprenticeship Ordinance governs the training of craftsmen and technicians in 42 designated trades. Anyone aged between 14 and 18, employed in one of these trades, and who has not completed an apprenticeship, must enter into a contract with the employer. This must be registered with the Director of Apprenticeship, who is the executive director of the VTC. Contracts in other trades may be registered voluntarily. An apprenticeship normally lasts three or four years. Qualifications earned before the start of the apprenticeship, such as completion of a craft foundation course, may lead to exemption from the first year.

The Office of the Director of Apprenticeship advises and helps the employers of apprentices. Inspectors visit workplaces to ensure that training schemes are properly implemented, help to resolve disputes, and ensure that apprentices are enrolled on the required courses of technical education. A free placement service is offered to job-seekers interested in an apprenticeship. During the year, 3 650 contracts were registered (730 in non-designated trades), covering 3 100 craft and 550 technician apprentices. At the year's end, 7 930 apprentices were being trained.

Training for the Disabled

Five skills centres, three run by the VTC and two by voluntary agencies, prepare disabled people for open employment or mainstream technical education and industrial training. They provide 770 full-time places, of which 288 are residential.

Support services provided by the VTC include a vocational assessment service, using internationally-recognised tests and work samples designed to match local commercial and industrial skill profiles. All mildly mentally-disabled students undergo a one-week assessment in their final school year, while an eight-week programme is used in assessing the more complex cases. Short assessment programmes with specific objectives are also provided.

The VTC's Technical Aids and Resource Centre designs and makes aids for disabled trainees, students and workers to enhance their employment prospects, and provides information and resource materials on vocational rehabilitation.

An inspectorate unit advises skills centres on administration, curriculum, training methods and standards; and provides guidance to disabled students on technical education and industrial training courses. The unit works closely with the Labour Department's selective placement service to ensure that training matches the demand for skills in the local employment market. Over 80 per cent of disabled people completing full-time courses in technical institutes and skills centres entered open employment or enrolled in further courses in mainstream technical education during the year under review.

Tertiary Education

Ten years ago, less than five per cent of the 17-20 age group could receive tertiary education in Hong Kong. By 1994-95, this figure had increased to 18 per cent, with 14 500 places for first-year, first degree courses.

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