AT present, students who are relatively unmotivated by mainstream education are not being fully served with specially-planned programmes. Only a small number (around 300) are able to continue their education in the Hong Kong Sea School following a more skill-oriented curriculum and those who cannot be placed may become dropouts and even delinquents.
The Education Commission has considered making special provisions in its Report No. 4 for youngsters who are unable to catch up on a normal academic course and who refuse schooling under the nine years free and compulsory education.
It has recommended that, apart from the Hong Kong Sea School, three more practical schools be set up to provide a diversified curriculum comprising academic and practical subjects.
This curriculum is to have a 50 per cent component in academic subjects, 45 per cent in non-academic subjects and the remaining five per cent in cross-curricular learning activities.
The range of academic subjects offered includes Chinese, English, mathematics, integrated science and social studies. Meanwhile, the technical/practical subjects will include the options of general mechanical study, general electrical studies, catering services, commercial studies, hairstyling, fashion and possibly some others pending the phased development of these schools up to 1997-98.
These special purpose schools are full-time establishments for Form 1 to 3 study. There are five classes in each form with 30 (as opposed to 40 currently in a conventional school) pupils in each class. The total enrolment for each practical school is 450 pupils, looked after by a school-based social worker.
The provision of practical schools is worthy of support because they provide a structured environment where pupils failing the conventional core curriculum could have a higher incentive to learn. Increased investment for students lagging behind at this stage is likely to save a lot of remedial services in the future.