ENG-1996 — Page 206

EDUCATION

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Non-graduate Teacher Qualifications Assessment

The Non-graduate Teacher Qualifications Assessment Scheme was introduced in the 1992-93 school year 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 non-graduate teachers. A total of 69 candidates passed the required examinations in the 1996 cycle.

Student Discipline

A Student Discipline Section was set up in September 1996. The section provided teacher staff and school heads with effective management consultant services on discipline matters. It also advised schools on preventive measures, the setting up of reward and sanction systems and the handling of difficulties faced by schools over discipline.

New Immigrant Children from Mainland China

The Education Department, with the assistance of voluntary agencies, operated an induction programme for new immigrant children from mainland China to help them adapt to the local social and school environment. A total of 33 agencies helped run the programme, benefiting 12 342 new immigrant children. Feedback from teachers, students and the community has been very positive. To help immigrant children from Mainland China obtain schooling, the age for admission to all adult education programmes and courses was lowered from 18 to 15 from September 1996.

An extension programme on remedial English was operated to help new immigrant children from China catch up with schooling in Hong Kong. Advice was also given to teachers on tailoring the curricula in the subjects of Chinese language and English language for Primary 1 to Secondary 3 students.

Teacher Education and Quality

Pre-service and in-service teacher education programmes, at sub-degree and degree levels, are provided by tertiary institutions funded through the University Grants Committee. In-service professional development courses for teachers are also provided by the Education Department and professional organisations.

In the 1996-97 academic year, the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIED) offered 45 courses for more than 8 440 full-time and part-time students. These included pre-service Certificate in Education programmes; in-service initial training for kindergarten, primary, secondary, technical, commercial and special education teachers; refresher training courses for serving teachers in primary and secondary schools; advanced courses of teacher education for non-graduate secondary school teachers of cultural, practical and technical subjects and two new courses in Putonghua.

The Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation conducted an institutional review of the HKIEd in February 1996 to assess the suitability of its academic environment and processes for the development, introduction, conduct and maintenance of degree and related programmes. The institute was found to be creating a suitable environment for the development and introduction of degree programmes, although some operations needed to be developed further before launching such programmes.