Ten years of pre-vocational education

CMA CHOI Cheung Kok Pre-vocational School is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, with 148 students graduating.

Director of Education Lam Woon-kwong, who was guest of honour, praised the Chinese Manufacturers' Association for its contribution to education.

In the 1950s the association helped to lay the foundation of education in science and technology by donating millions of dollars for the construction of the Hong Kong Technical College (now Hong Kong Polytechnic University).

Mr Lam said that pre-vocational education is now recognised as an integral part of secondary school education.

Giving the students a word of advice, he encouraged them to read widely in their leisure time in order to improve themselves.

This year, the school had 148 graduates, 121 from Form Five and 27 from Form Seven.

In his address, school supervisor Patrick Choi Wan-hoe traced the school's development since it was set up in 1984.

Two years later, the school produced its first batch of Form Seven graduates who would later enter university and graduate with degrees.

Mr Choi said students would enjoy a much better study environment once the school had completed its improvement project by next year.

School principal Ying Yu-hing gave a brief school report, which included news about the curriculum, facilities, extra-curricular activities and public exam results.

He outlined the activities the school had organised to mark its 10th anniversary, and also extended his thanks to the Education Department for allocating funds to build a new five-storey wing for the school.

The prize-giving was followed by a vote of thanks given by a student representative.

A special feature at this year's ceremony was the presentation of long-term service certificates to members of the school staff.

The graduation ceremony concluded with a tea reception and a display of school activities on the exhibition boards.