TEACHER EDUCATION (Adjustments or changes)

Mr L. P. Rodrigo asked the Minister for Education what adjustments or changes have been made in teacher education to meet the needs of the country at this stage of its development.

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, major adjustments and changes have been made in teacher education to meet the relevant needs of the Republic.

With the emphasis on technical education, the training of technical teachers has been greatly stepped up at the Teachers' Training College. At present, the College is conducting three special technical courses in addition to the normal technical ones. The special courses are the industrial arts course, a crash craft teacher training programme for holders of the School Certificate and the Higher School Certificate. The third course is for the re-training of non-technical qualified teachers in metalwork, woodwork and basic electricity.

To meet the shortage of technical teachers, student-teachers who joined the first year part-time general course were encouraged to opt for the technical course.

Several in-service courses, both professional and non-professional, are being conducted and planned to promote professionalism within the teaching profession and also to inculcate greater awareness of the political, economic and social changes in the Republic. These courses have been designed as part of the general further teacher education programme.

Emphasis has also been laid on courses conducted in the teaching of English and Chinese as second languages.