STUDENTS of Kau Yan College are enjoying a better environment and facilities in their new campus in pursuit of an all-round education. Students' academic performance and participation in extra-curricular activities were restricted at the old Sai Ying Pun premises due to overcrowding and inadequate facilities. ''We now have more classrooms, special rooms and a larger library,'' said principal Michael Lau Man-fai. ''We can also offer some non-academic courses to students as well.'' According to Mr Lau, previously the school could not introduce courses like Home Economics, Design and Technology and Computer Studies, but now pupils can have a chance to take the subjects. ''All these changes will benefit students in their acquisition of knowledge,'' Mr Lau said. The school was completely re-located to Tai Po in the 1991-1992 academic year. Prior to the re-location Kau Yan College had to use a primary school in Wah Ming Estate during the 1990-1991 academic year. ''We naturally encountered many difficulties, for instance, when students attended science lessons (laboratory sessions), there were many inconveniences,'' he said. He said since there were no standard sink or gas pipe to carry out experiments, they had to make do with domestic gas stoves. To fulfil the school's aim of training students to become all-rounders, there are a number of special committees led by teachers; some of these are the academic committee, extra-curricular committee, religious committee and guidance committee. As a result of strong interest in orchestral music, Kau Yan has established an excellent and well recognised orchestra in 1990. ''At the beginning, there were between 30 and 40 students in the orchestra. But now, it is very encouraging to see that there are between 60 and 70 members.'' Mr Lau proudly said that the orchestra had been invited to give performances on many occasions. ''The reason for that may be due to the band's high standard.'' In inter-school music competitions, the orchestra has also won many major prizes.
