STUDENT counselling organisations have strengthened their hotline service by adding more lines, counsellors and volunteer helpers to meet the expected rush of calls when the HKCEE results are announced tomorrow.
The Hok Yau Club, one of the largest counselling organisations in the territory, has set up a strong team of 120 counsellors and assistants to man its 22-line telephone service during the 11-day operation.
Last year, the club put up 20 lines manned by some 70 volunteers; about 16,000 calls were received.
''Last year's situation was not very good because we failed to recruit enough volunteers and so not all lines were fully utilised,'' said Mr Ng Tak-kay, director of the club's student counselling centre.
''But this year, with a stronger team, we can pick up more calls and provide better service. Two workers are expected to man a line, so that they can jot down notes and pick up the telephone alternatively.'' Mr Ng said the recruitment of volunteers was always a headache for the organisation because ''this is a voluntary job with no payment, so there's no guarantee for the number of volunteers''.
''Fewer volunteers may turn up when, for example, airline tickets are cheap enough to attract more people to travel,'' he said.
The volunteers, mostly matriculation graduates or secondary school graduates aged 24 or above, have received training on counselling techniques and Form 6 admission information.
