******************************************
The Secretary for Education, Mr Michael Suen, paid a visit to Sai Kung, a district with quality living environment for 400,000 residents this afternoon (January 30). Mr Suen observed how teachers in a special school and a secondary school provided appropriate education to students of different needs and learnt about the construction progress of two post-secondary institutions. He also exchanged views with district councilors on various issues.
Accompanied by the District Officer (Sai Kung), Mr Peter Chan, Mr Suen first visited the 35-year-old Hong Chi Morninghill School, Tsui Lam, and saw the provision of ˇ§tailor madeˇ¨ education services for students aged between 6 and 18 with intellectual disabilities.
Mr Suen was concerned about the education of these children and during his visit he toured the speech therapy room, remedial teaching room for autistic children, occupational therapy room and practical workshop. He was given details of the schoolˇ¦s comprehensive services on occupational assessments and career guidance provided for its graduates.
Mr Suen said he was pleased to know that through the dedicated efforts of professionally trained teachers, students were able to overcome difficulties and made progress in both academic performance and social skills.
Mr Suen then proceeded to the HHCKLA Buddhist Ching Kok Secondary School. He observed how the school helped the students of varied abilities to realise their academic potential on one hand, and to accomplish all-round development in ethics, intellect, physique, social skills and aesthetics. Inside the campus, Mr Suen watched a physical education lesson to see how adventure training was deployed to build up studentsˇ¦ self confidence and resilience.
During his stay at the school, he also sat in on an English lesson of a Secondary One class where two teachers adjusted the curriculum through small group teaching for students of varied abilities. Students learnt to study with and offer mutual assistance to other students.
He then watched how Secondary Five students attend a meditation class and chatted with them about how a relaxed learning environment could help them relieve pressure.
Mr Suen was concerned about the progress of the two post-secondary institution projects in Tseung Kwan O, namely Vocational Training Council Hong Kong Design Institute and Hong Kong Institute for Vocational Education (Lee Wai Lee). He received a briefing on the progress by representatives of the institutions and learnt that these two campuses, with 43000-square-metres of usable area when completed in 2009 and 2010 respectively, will offer 6,500 school places. The new campuses will be furnished with different facilities including laboratories, exhibition halls, learning resource centres and canteens. The swimming pools, basketball courts, the greenery podium facilities will be opened to residents during non-peak hours.
Before ending his visit, Mr Suen arrived at the town centre to have a tea gathering with district councillors at the Sai Kung District Council and exchanged views with them on recent government and education issues.
Ends/Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Issued at HKT 21:08
NNNN