ENG-1998 — Page 204

EDUCATION

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In July, 4944 full-time, 1886 mixed full-time, 3 966 part-time day and 8 057 evening students graduated from the technical institutes. In November, the total enrolment in technical institutes was of 11 714 full-time, 3 490 mixed full-time, 10 635 part-time day and 21 908 evening students on 292 courses.

The Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education

The VTC plans to bring together its two technical colleges and seven technical institutes to form one collaborative education institution the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE). This will offer a range of new modular courses from basic craft to higher diploma level. It is the result of considerable planning and development by expert educationists in consultation with employers. It is expected these new courses will meet the demands of young people who aspire to qualifications enabling them to build their careers through vocational education and training. The IVE will enrol its first batch of students in 1999/2000.

Technical Training

Besides offering pre-employment training to new entrants to the labour market, the VTC's 24 training centres also offer upgrading training for in-service personnel at craft, technician and higher technician levels. Some 54 179 full-time and part-time places were available during the year for both school leavers and people in employment. Trade tests were offered to workers in the automobile, building and civil engineering, electrical, jewellery, machine shop and metal working, plastics, printing and precision tooling trades.

Industry-specific Training

The Construction Industry Training Authority, established in 1975, operates three training centres plus a management training centre, a trade testing centre and a safety training centre, offering a total of 6 515 full-time and 57 495 part-time training places for the 1998-99 training year. Full-time courses are offered to train up craftsmen, operatives and supervisors in the construction field; and there are various continuing education and training courses for in-service construction personnel. The authority is funded by a levy of 0.25 per cent on the value of all construction works exceeding $1 million. To help improve construction site safety, certification tests are conducted for operators of construction plants, temporary suspended working platforms and builders' lifts. The authority also conducts trade tests and intermediate trade tests for construction workers with a view to upgrading the quality of construction works.

The Clothing Industry Training Authority was established in 1975 to provide training courses for the clothing and footwear industries. It is financed by a levy of 0.03 per cent on the Free on Board value of clothing and footwear items produced and exported from Hong Kong. It set up two training centres to offer various training programmes to youngsters and those currently serving in the industries. In addition, in-house training programmes are tailor-made for individual manufacturers to help the transfer of technical know-how. It also assists the Employees Retraining Board in delivering retraining programmes for displaced workers. In 1997, 5 496 people were trained at technician, craftsman and operative levels on full-time and part-time basis.