ONE of the most exciting new courses being developed by the Open Learning Institute is for a qualification that has been long awaited by Hong Kong's teachers.
The Bachelor of Education degree is aimed at the territory's practising primary school teachers, most of whom have no higher-level qualification.
Professor Maurice Craft, special consultant in the school of education, said he expected many junior secondary school teachers would also be interested in the degree.
''The need is huge. There are around 20,000 primary teachers, almost all non-graduates, and there are several junior secondary school teachers without degrees,'' Professor Craft said.
The degree course, which would start next April, was the biggest need in education in Hong Kong, he said.
There were one or two courses available at other institutions, but these had only a small intake each year.
