A ROUND 200 secondary teachers are going back to school - to learn the latest in teaching methods.
The Refresher Training Course for Serving Secondary Teachers, introduced in 1992, is an annual programme offered by the Hong Kong Institute of Educational Research (HKIER) of the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Professor Ambrose King, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the university, said that secondary education is in no way 'inferior' to university education as a preparation for careers and finding a place in society. And the roles and responsibilities of secondary school teachers have become increasingly complex and demanding in recent years, he added.
'The quality of secondary teachers is an important factor in determining the quality of education,' Professor King said.
'A teacher should not only be good at teaching but he or she must also be aware of and understand the latest in teaching methods, as well as know how to put theory into practice with the help of new technology. Teachers today also need to know something about school management and counselling work.' The refresher course, which the university is offering at the request of the Education Department, is designed to give teachers a better understanding of recent developments in teaching methods and strategies and educational theories and ideas.
The one-year course shows teachers how to apply the theories, ideas, methods and strategies to tackle current problems in school management, counselling, and classroom instruction.