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The Secretary for Education (SED), Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, this afternoon (March 23) visited Yuen Long District. In addition to visiting Vocational Training Council (VTC) institutions and Pok Oi Hospital Wai Yin Association Youth City in Tin Shui Wai, Mr Ng also took the opportunity to meet and exchange views with Yuen Long District Council members, local school principals and young people.
Accompanied by the VTC Chairman, Mr Clement Chen; VTC Standing Committee Member, Mr Joseph Lee; VTC Executive Director, Mrs Carrie Yau; and District Officer (Yuen Long), Mr Edward Mak, Mr Ng first visited the VTC's Youth College in Tin Shui Wai to learn more about its interactive learning environment for school leavers of Secondary Three or above to acquire knowledge and skills for further studies and employment. Mr Ng then went to the VTC's Hospitality Industry Training and Development Centre to learn more about its practical training for students.
During his visit to the two institutions, Mr Ng observed classes in a number of programmes, including hairdressing, professional beauty care and Western baking and pastry making.
Mr Ng said, "We all know that young people have their own talents and dreams. Thus the community should provide suitable platforms for them to stretch their potential to the fullest and enable them to put into practice the knowledge they have acquired.
"Besides academic education, the Government has made extra efforts to promote vocational education in recent years, encouraging young people to pursue further studies and join different industries according to their abilities and interests.
"For industries facing a labour shortage, we have introduced a Pilot Training and Support Scheme at the VTC to integrate structured apprenticeship training programmes with clear career progression pathways for such industries. And from the 2014/15 school year onwards, the VTC has been funded to provide industrial attachment opportunities for all students of higher diploma programmes and some of the students of diploma in vocational education programmes."
Mr Ng then went to the Pok Oi Hospital Wai Yin Association Youth City in Tin Heng Estate to learn more about its provision of support and development services for young people, including sports training, career aspirations and life education. Major training facilities include a creative centre, a digital sports and arts room, and a dance studio.
Additionally, the social enterprise-run Pok Oi Café aims to enhance young people's job skills and employability. Mr Ng took the opportunity to host a tea gathering and met members of the school head associations representing kindergartens and primary and secondary schools in Yuen Long to listen to their views on various aspects of education.
Finally, Mr Ng called on the Yuen Long District Council to exchange views with the Chairman, Mr Leung Che-cheung, and other members on education policy and matters of mutual concern.
Ends/Monday, March 23, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:09
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