ENG-1996 — Page 207

EDUCATION

Piling for the institute's new campus in Tai Po was completed in February 1996. Superstructure works are in progress in four separate contract packages due for completion in July, August and October/November 1997.

Estimated to cost $2.312 billion, the new campus will provide academic, administrative, amenities and indoor sports accommodation, plus outdoor sports facilities, student hostels and staff quarters on completion in the summer of 1997.

Management Courses

The Education Department provides basic training in educational management and administration for primary/secondary school heads and senior teachers, and professional officers of the Education Department. Teachers of SMI schools were offered additional training opportunities to update their knowledge in leadership and strategic planning.

Council on Professional Conduct in Education

The council, set up in 1994, is a non-statutory body promoting professional conduct in education. It draws up operational criteria defining the conduct expected of an educator and advises the Director of Education, where necessary, on cases of disputes or alleged professional misconduct. It has 25 elected members from schools and educational organisations, and three members appointed by the Director of Education. It aims to enhance the image and professionalism of teachers and to attract more high-calibre young people into the teaching profession.

Technical Education and Industrial Training

A comprehensive system of technical education and industrial training provides the economy with well-trained manpower at all levels. Publicly-funded courses are provided by the Vocational Training Council (VTC) at two technical colleges, seven technical institutes and 24 training centres. Separate levy-funded authorities provide industrial training for the clothing and construction industries.

Technical Education

Technical education at higher technician level is provided by the VTC's two technical colleges at Chai Wan and Tsing Yi. These offer higher diploma (normally three years full-time) and higher certificate (two or three years part-time) courses in applied science, business administration, computing and mathematics, construction, design, electrical and communications engineering, electronic engineering, hotel, catering and tourism management, manufacturing engineering and mechanical engineering.

Short courses are also offered to people in employment. In July, 1 325 full-time, 668 part-time day and 1 554 part-time evening students graduated from the technical colleges. In November, enrolment totalled 5 141 full-time students on 34 courses, and 1 282 day release and 7 449 evening students on 45 part-time courses.

The seven technical institutes provide technician and craft level courses in accounting, applied science, child care, clothing technology, commercial studies, computing, construction, design, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, hairdressing, hotel-keeping and tourism, manufacturing engineering, marine engineering and fabrication, mechanical engineering, motor vehicle engineering, printing and textiles. Technician level courses are offered for Secondary 5 leavers

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