Education in Hong Kong
Encyclopedia
Education in Hong Kong has a similar system to that of the United Kingdom
, in particular the English education system
of Hong Kong
was modernised by the British
in 1861. The system is often described as extremely competitive by global standards.
Small village Chinese schools were observed by the British missionaries when they arrived circa 1843. Anthony Sweeting believes those small village schools existed in Chek Chu
, Shek Pai Wan
, Heung Kong Tsai and Wong Nai Chong on Hong Kong Island
, although proof is no longer available.
One of the earliest schools with reliable records was Li Ying College
established in 1075 in present day New Territories
. By 1860 Hong Kong had 20 village schools. Chinese who were wealthy did not educate their children in Hong Kong, instead they sent them back to the mainland for traditional Chinese education. The changes came with the arrival of the British in 1841.
At first Hong Kong's education came from Protestant and Catholic
missionaries who provided social services. Italian missionaries began to provide boy-only education
to British and Chinese youth in 1843. By 1861 Frederick Stewart
would become "The Founder of Hong Kong Education" for integrating a modern western-style education model into the Colonial Hong Kong
school system. One of the much contested debate was whether schools should offer Vernacular
education, teaching in Chinese at all. Education was considered a luxury for the elite and the rich. The first school to open the floodgate of western medical practice to the Far East
was the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese
in 1887. The push for Chinese education
in a British system did not begin until the rise of social awareness of the May Fourth Movement in 1919
and New Life Movement in 1934
. Educating the poor did not become a priority until they accounted for the majority of the population.
Finance issues were addressed in the 1970s
. A small group of protesters of South Asia
n origin marched through central Hong Kong demanding more schooling in the English language on 3 June 2007.
in the 1960s in the UK, children in Hong Kong transformed from the old education system to the new. Education listed as compulsory below are generally required by law.
have also become a popular standard in parallel to regular education. A heavy emphasis is placed on the Ranking systems at an early age. Competition among students is fierce, since job and advanced-school placements are rigorously filtered by rank results.
The majority of schools require students in Hong Kong to wear uniforms. Common restrictions include strict dress codes, behaviours, and what items one can carry to school.
s in disciplinary areas. These statistics will appear on a student's report card
, and sometimes testimonials on whether he or she can graduate. A typical example of a current institution using a demerit point system is at Shatin Tsung Tsin Secondary School
http://www.sttss.edu.hk/track/ndiv.php?nid=312. Most schools will record demerit points (Chinese: 記缺點) at the most basic violation. Three typical point deduction accrue from a minor offence (Chinese: 記小過), while three minor offences mount up to one major offence (Chinese: 記大過). Once a student has accrued three or more major offences, he or she is automatically suspended (or expelled if over compulsory education age) from school. The point system has been known to carry substantial weight, which ultimately affects one's report card performance, and controversially jeopardising future career prospects.
s and different sets of staff. To make up for the time of shortened half days, students are sometimes required to attend alternate Saturdays. Most primary schools are gradually moving to full school day systems as government policy aims to phase out half-day schooling over time as resource permits.
Due to the drop in birth rate
in recent years, many primary schools were forced to cut classes, cut teachers and even close down. There have been debates that one should seize the opportunity to promote small class teaching. Doing so could mitigate the pressure of teachers, class and school reductions, on top of improving ratio of students to teachers.
(HKIEd), under the aegis of the University Grants Committee
(UGC), aims to upgrade the quality of teaching professionals. It offers a range of degree and postgraduate programmes as well as some sub-degree teacher education programmes targeted at pre-primary, primary and secondary levels. The Chinese University of Hong Kong
(CUHK) and The University of Hong Kong (HKU) offer full-time and part-time degree and postgraduate programmes for in-service and pre-service teachers. The Hong Kong Baptist University
(HKBU) also offers both undergraduate and postgraduate teacher education programmes on a full-time or part-time basis. The Open University of Hong Kong
(OUHK) offers two in-service Bachelor of Education (Honours) degree programmes and two in-service Postgraduate Diploma in Education programmes for primary and secondary school teachers.
of HK$13,000 per student per year from the 2007-2008 school year, provided the annual school fees do not exceed HK$24,000 for half-day kindergartens or HK$48,000 for whole-day kindergartens.
A schedule of voucher value is set out as below:
2007/08 $13,000 ;
2008/09 $14,000 ;
2009/10 $14,000 ;
2010/11 $16,000 ;
2011/12 $16,000 .
, English
, Mathematics
, and General Studies
with broad emphasis on Music
, Physical Education
and Arts
. In some schools Science
is taught as well. Formerly there were 3 knowledge-oriented subjects: Social Studies, Health Education, and Science. In the 1996–1997 academic year the Education Department amalgamated these subjects into the new subject of General Studies http://search.gov.hk/search.html?ui_lang=en&ui_charset=utf-8&gp0=edb_home&gp1=edb_home&tpl_id=edb&txtonly=&query=General+Studies&web=this. Depending on the religious background of the school, Religious Education
or Bible Studies
could be incorporated. The teaching medium in most of the local primary schools is Chinese with English as a second language. After the transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997
, only a handful of primary schools
and secondary schools
are able to keep English as the medium of instruction
under new government policies. Those schools are generally referred to as English as Medium of Instruction schools (EMI).
schooling system, with 10% being single-sex education
institutions. In Form 4, most students of grammar school
s are required to choose between streams, namely "Science", "Arts" and "Commerce", depending on the school policy. The end of Form 5 leads to the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination
(HKCEE). The exam is equivalent to the UK's GCSEs or O-levels exams. (This information is out-dated as of Nov 2011)
Students obtaining a satisfactory grade in the HKCEE
will be promoted to Form 6. The Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination
(HKALE) then acts as the de facto university entrance examination akin to the UK's GCE A-levels. At this level streaming is even more rigidly specialized dividing into Mathematics/Engineering stream, Biology/Medical stream or Arts stream for example.
Prerequisites for university admissions include Grade "E" or better in the HKALE Chinese Language and Culture
and Use of English
subjects and 2 other A-level equivalent subjects. The Joint University Programmes Admissions System
(JUPAS) determines admission to tertiary institutions
largely based on HKALE and HKCEE results. However, students achieving more than 6 'A's in their HKCEEs are eligible to apply for early admissions through the Early Admissions Scheme (EAS) including The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), The University of Hong Kong
(HKU) and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).
, Li Po Chun United World College
, Hong Kong International School
, Chinese International School
, German Swiss International School, Canadian International School
, French International School
and Yew Chung International School teach with English as the primary language, with some sections bilingual in German
, French
and Chinese
. International school students rarely take Hong Kong public exams. British students take GCSE, IGCSE
and A-levels. US
students take APs. Increasingly, international schools follow the International Baccalaureate (IBDP) program, and enter universities through non-JUPAS direct entry. International students apply on a per school basis, whereas Hong Kong local students submit 1 application for multiple local universities as a JUPAS applicant.
, plus another two A-level subjects (or one A-level subject and two AS-level subjects). Students who sit for the HKALE first time have a success rate of 75.8%. There are 19 different Advanced Level
and 20 different AS-level subjects available. The cost of undergraduate, full-degree, full-time programmes tend to be around HK$40,000 - 50,000 a year, with the cost being higher for engineering and medical students. The reason for this relatively low cost is due to heavy government subsidisation. Being an international city, Hong Kong's tertiary institutions attract many foreign exchange students from the US,the UK, Switzerland
, Canada
, Italy
, Singapore
to name a few.
The following is a table comparing HK tertiary students enrollment in various countries. It also provides a ratio comparison to the number that enrolled in local Hong Kong universities.
in nature. Students in the Commerce stream would usually enter the workplace to gain practical work experience by this point. Further education pursuit in Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education or universities abroad are common. The Manpower Development Committee (MDC) advices the government on coordination, regulation and promotion of the sector. In addition, the Vocational Training Council (VTC) ensures the level of standard is met through the "Apprentice Ordinance". The VTC also operate three skills-centres for people with disabilities. secondary schools in Hong Kong are going to be cut down to only two years due to the switch in the government.
adults a chance to obtain a tertiary degree. The concept was not common several decades ago. The EMB
has commissioned two non-profit school operators to provide evening courses. Both operators have set up fee remission schemes to help the adult learners in need of financial assistance. Adult education courses also provide Vocational Training Council through various universities and private institutions. The Open University of Hong Kong
is one establishment for mature students.
, non-Chinese speaking children and returnee
s. Free "Induction Programmes" of up to 60 hours have been offered to NAC by non-government organisations. The EMB also provides a 6 month full-time "Initiation Programme" incorporating both academic and non-academic support services, for NAC before they are formally placed into mainstream schools. Hei-Hang Hayes Tang (2002) provided a good sociology of education thesis on the NACs' adaptation and school performance
Some have criticised the system for having too narrow of a stream focus, too early on. Alan Leong
of the Hong Kong Legislative Council pointed out in a guest lecture to CUHK that secondary level science students are incapable of participating in meaningful discussions on history, arts, or literature. Vice versa journalists of arts stream background are incapable of accurately discussing technological issues. The narrow focus of education in Hong Kong has been a concern.
The pervasive perception from observers in overseas education institutions generally is that a typical Hong Kong student compared with other students, even against other students in the Asia region, lacks systematic decision-making confidence and relies on repetition and undeveloped answers. This deviates from the common benchmark of intellect where value propositions are generated from innovation and distinctive solutions, and this has led to much schism in the debate of educational direction of Hong Kong, where the populace makes no such aspiration for intellect but seek constant reaffirmation of the value of myriad certificates obtained through pedagogy throughout their working lives. The desperation to seek standing in life through education is further highlighted by severe ironies such as:
1) Senior education officials often acclaim the excellence of Hong Kong education, yet few if any will let their children matriculate locally, preferring overseas universities instead.
2) A certificate driven society that takes pride in its academic excellence is unable to devise a suitable benchmark of excellence itself, with a low public approval of the local educational system, relies on certification from outside Hong Kong.
(three years for junior secondary, three years for senior secondary and four years for university) with the Form 1 intake in the 2006-07 academic year the first crop to graduate under the new system. Streaming of classes according to subjects offered will be abolished, and the two public exams HKCEE and HKALE will be merged into one public exam, called the Hong Kong Diploma in Secondary Education, sat at the end of the Senior Secondary 3 (Form 6 under the existing system), and expanding school based assessment. University education will extend from three years to four.
Education in the United Kingdom
Education in the United Kingdom is a devolved matter with each of the countries of the United Kingdom having separate systems under separate governments: the UK Government is responsible for England, and the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive are...
, in particular the English education system
Education in England
Education in England is overseen by the Department for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Local authorities take responsibility for implementing policy for public education and state schools at a regional level....
of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
was modernised by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1861. The system is often described as extremely competitive by global standards.
Small village Chinese schools were observed by the British missionaries when they arrived circa 1843. Anthony Sweeting believes those small village schools existed in Chek Chu
Stanley, Hong Kong
Stanley is a town and a tourist attraction in Hong Kong. It located on a peninsula on the southeastern part of Hong Kong Island. It is east of Repulse Bay and west of Shek O, adjacent to Chung Hom Kok...
, Shek Pai Wan
Shek Pai Wan
Shek Pai Wan , or Aberdeen Bay is a bay between Aberdeen of Hong Kong Island and Aberdeen Island. The bay is one of traditional fishery port because the hills on two sides forms a nature shelter. The whole bay is zoned as a typhoon shelter, Aberdeen West Typhoon Shelter.-External links:*...
, Heung Kong Tsai and Wong Nai Chong on Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island
Hong Kong Island is an island in the southern part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It has a population of 1,289,500 and its population density is 16,390/km², as of 2008...
, although proof is no longer available.
One of the earliest schools with reliable records was Li Ying College
Li Ying College
Li-Ying College was one of the first schools established in Imperial Hong Kong. It was founded circa 1075 AD during the Song Dynasty. -History:...
established in 1075 in present day New Territories
New Territories
New Territories is one of the three main regions of Hong Kong, alongside Hong Kong Island and the Kowloon Peninsula. It makes up 86.2% of Hong Kong's territory. Historically, it is the region described in The Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory...
. By 1860 Hong Kong had 20 village schools. Chinese who were wealthy did not educate their children in Hong Kong, instead they sent them back to the mainland for traditional Chinese education. The changes came with the arrival of the British in 1841.
At first Hong Kong's education came from Protestant and Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
missionaries who provided social services. Italian missionaries began to provide boy-only education
Single-sex education
Single-sex education, also known as single-gender education, is the practice of conducting education where male and female students attend separate classes or in separate buildings or schools. The practice was predominant before the mid-twentieth century, particularly in secondary education and...
to British and Chinese youth in 1843. By 1861 Frederick Stewart
Frederick Stewart (colonial administrator)
Frederick Stewart was the Colonial Secretary in Hong Kong. He is considered "The Founder of Hong Kong Education" for integrating a modern western-style education model into the Colonial Hong Kong school systems...
would become "The Founder of Hong Kong Education" for integrating a modern western-style education model into the Colonial Hong Kong
Colonial Hong Kong
In the 19th century the British, Dutch, French, Indians and Americans saw Imperial China as the world's largest untapped market. In 1840 the British Empire launched their first and one of the most aggressive expeditionary forces to claim the territory that would later be known as Hong Kong.In a few...
school system. One of the much contested debate was whether schools should offer Vernacular
Vernacular
A vernacular is the native language or native dialect of a specific population, as opposed to a language of wider communication that is not native to the population, such as a national language or lingua franca.- Etymology :The term is not a recent one...
education, teaching in Chinese at all. Education was considered a luxury for the elite and the rich. The first school to open the floodgate of western medical practice to the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
was the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese
Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese
The Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese was the first college in Hong Kong to fully adopt and accept Western medical science practices...
in 1887. The push for Chinese education
Sinology
Sinology in general use is the study of China and things related to China, but, especially in the American academic context, refers more strictly to the study of classical language and literature, and the philological approach...
in a British system did not begin until the rise of social awareness of the May Fourth Movement in 1919
May Fourth Movement
The May Fourth Movement was an anti-imperialist, cultural, and political movement growing out of student demonstrations in Beijing on May 4, 1919, protesting the Chinese government's weak response to the Treaty of Versailles, especially the Shandong Problem...
and New Life Movement in 1934
New Life Movement
The New Life Movement was set up by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek and his wife Soong May-ling in February 1934, with the help of the Blue Shirts Society and the CC Clique within the Chinese Nationalist Party...
. Educating the poor did not become a priority until they accounted for the majority of the population.
Finance issues were addressed in the 1970s
1970s in Hong Kong
1970s in Hong Kong underwent many changes that shaped its future. Economically, it reinvented itself from a manufacturing base into a financial centre. The market also began leaning toward corporations and franchises.-Background:...
. A small group of protesters of South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
n origin marched through central Hong Kong demanding more schooling in the English language on 3 June 2007.
Format
Following the introduction of the comprehensive school systemComprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
in the 1960s in the UK, children in Hong Kong transformed from the old education system to the new. Education listed as compulsory below are generally required by law.
British system before 1960
| Length | Education type | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 4 years | First school | |
| 4 years | Secondary-middle school | |
| 3 + 2 years | Secondary-high school | |
British system after 1960
| Length | Education type | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 6 years | Primary school | |
| 5 + 2 years | Secondary school | |
British system after 1971
| Length | Education type | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 6 years | Primary education | compulsory government funded as of 1971 |
| 3 years | Secondary education | compulsory government funded as of 1978 |
| 2 + 2 years | Secondary school | selective |
British/Post-British format until 2009
| Length | Education type | Additional names | Type | Focus | School year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | Kindergarten Kindergarten A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school... |
voluntary | General | Sept - June | |
| 6 years | Primary education | Primary 1, Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Primary 5, Primary 6 | compulsory | General | Sept - July |
| 3 years | Secondary education | Form 1, Form 2, Form 3 | compulsory | General | Sept - July |
| 2 years | Senior Secondary (leads to HKCEE Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination The Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination was a standardized examination between 1974 and 2011 after most local students’ five-year secondary education, conducted by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority . The examination will be discontinued in 2012... ) |
Form 4, Form 5 | selective | Specialised | Sept - July (Form 4),Sept - April (Form 5) |
| 2 years | Matriculation Matriculation Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings... Course (leads to HKALE Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination The Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination , or more commonly known as the A-level, conducted by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority , is normally taken by senior students at the end of their matriculation in Hong Kong. In 2010, 39,772 candidates entered for the examination... ) |
Form 6 (Lower Six) Form 7 (Upper Six) |
selective, performance based | Specialised | Sept - July (Form 6), Sept - February/March (Form 7) |
| Depends on subject | Tertiary education Higher education Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology... (leads to bachelors Bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world... , masters Master's degree A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice... and other academic degree Academic degree An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree... s) |
selective | Specialised | Varies | |
Current Format
| Length | Education type | Additional names | Type | Focus | School year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years | Kindergarten Kindergarten A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school... |
voluntary | General | Sept - June | |
| 6 years | Primary education | Primary 1, Primary 2, Primary 3, Primary 4, Primary 5, Primary 6 | compulsory | General | Sept - July |
| 3 years | Secondary education | Secondary 1, Secondary 2, Secondary 3 | compulsory | General | Sept - July |
| 3 years | Senior Secondary (leads to Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education will be the only public exam in the new 3-3-4 education system to be introduced in Hong Kong secondary schools; it will be a replacement of the existing Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination and Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination and be the... ) |
Secondary 4, Secondary 5, Secondary 6 (OR Senior Secondary 1, Senior Secondary 2, Senior Secondary 3) | selective | Specialised | Sept - July (Secondary 4, 5),Sept - Feb (Secondary 6) |
| Depends on subject | Tertiary education Higher education Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology... (leads to bachelors Bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world... , masters Master's degree A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice... and other academic degree Academic degree An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree... s) |
selective | Specialised | Varies | |
School systems
Culture
The mainstream education system in Hong Kong has often been described as "spoon-fed" . Cram schools in Hong KongCram schools in Hong Kong
Cram schools in Hong Kong are referred to as Tutorial schools . According to the Census and Statistics Department of Hong Kong, a third of secondary school students went for private tutoring in the 2004-05 school year, spending a total of HK$18.9 million per month...
have also become a popular standard in parallel to regular education. A heavy emphasis is placed on the Ranking systems at an early age. Competition among students is fierce, since job and advanced-school placements are rigorously filtered by rank results.
The majority of schools require students in Hong Kong to wear uniforms. Common restrictions include strict dress codes, behaviours, and what items one can carry to school.
Point system
Schools in Hong Kong typically have strict codes of discipline. An overwhelming majority of schools employ "Demerit Points System" (Chinese: 記缺點制度, Mandarin: jì quēdiǎn zhìdù, Cantonese: gei3 kyut3 dim2 zai3 dok6) as a formal record of student offenceOffense (law)
In law, an offence is a violation of the criminal law .In England and Wales, as well as in Hong Kong the term "offence" means the same thing as, and is interchangeable with, the term "crime"....
s in disciplinary areas. These statistics will appear on a student's report card
Report card
A report card communicates a student's performance. In most places, the report card is issued by the school to the student or the student's parents twice or four times yearly. A typical report card uses a grading scale to determine the quality of a student's school work...
, and sometimes testimonials on whether he or she can graduate. A typical example of a current institution using a demerit point system is at Shatin Tsung Tsin Secondary School
Shatin Tsung Tsin Secondary School
Shatin Tsung Tsin Secondary School is a grammar school in Sha Tin, Hong Kong. Founded in 1985 by the Sham Shui Po Tsung Tsin Church, the school's goal is to provide a good study environment to students in Sha Tin and realize Christian education ideals....
http://www.sttss.edu.hk/track/ndiv.php?nid=312. Most schools will record demerit points (Chinese: 記缺點) at the most basic violation. Three typical point deduction accrue from a minor offence (Chinese: 記小過), while three minor offences mount up to one major offence (Chinese: 記大過). Once a student has accrued three or more major offences, he or she is automatically suspended (or expelled if over compulsory education age) from school. The point system has been known to carry substantial weight, which ultimately affects one's report card performance, and controversially jeopardising future career prospects.
Capacity
Many primary schools in Hong Kong offer half-day schooling, splitting by AM and PM to handle the demand. The two sessions are usually treated as separate school entities with two different headmasterHead teacher
A head teacher or school principal is the most senior teacher, leader and manager of a school....
s and different sets of staff. To make up for the time of shortened half days, students are sometimes required to attend alternate Saturdays. Most primary schools are gradually moving to full school day systems as government policy aims to phase out half-day schooling over time as resource permits.
Due to the drop in birth rate
Birth rate
Crude birth rate is the nativity or childbirths per 1,000 people per year . Another word used interchangeably with "birth rate" is "natality". When the crude birth rate is subtracted from the crude death rate, it reveals the rate of natural increase...
in recent years, many primary schools were forced to cut classes, cut teachers and even close down. There have been debates that one should seize the opportunity to promote small class teaching. Doing so could mitigate the pressure of teachers, class and school reductions, on top of improving ratio of students to teachers.
Qualifications: professional development for teachers
The Hong Kong Institute of EducationHong Kong Institute of Education
The Hong Kong Institute of Education is one of eight subsidised tertiary institutes under the University Grants Committee of Hong Kong. It is the only one dedicated to teacher education....
(HKIEd), under the aegis of the University Grants Committee
University Grants Committee (Hong Kong)
The University Grants Committee of Hong Kong is an advisory committee responsible for advising the Government of Hong Kong on the development and funding needs of higher education institutions within Hong Kong....
(UGC), aims to upgrade the quality of teaching professionals. It offers a range of degree and postgraduate programmes as well as some sub-degree teacher education programmes targeted at pre-primary, primary and secondary levels. The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a research-led university in Hong Kong.CUHK is the only tertiary education institution in Hong Kong with Nobel Prize winners on its faculty, including Chen Ning Yang, James Mirrlees, Robert Alexander Mundell and Charles K. Kao...
(CUHK) and The University of Hong Kong (HKU) offer full-time and part-time degree and postgraduate programmes for in-service and pre-service teachers. The Hong Kong Baptist University
Hong Kong Baptist University
Hong Kong Baptist University is a publicly-funded tertiary institution with a Christian education heritage. It is the sole surviving institution of 13 major Christian universities that once operated on the Chinese mainland,...
(HKBU) also offers both undergraduate and postgraduate teacher education programmes on a full-time or part-time basis. The Open University of Hong Kong
Open University of Hong Kong
The Open University of Hong Kong is a Hong Kong university providing sub-degree, degree and postgraduate courses leading to awards and qualifications principally through a system of open access and distance education....
(OUHK) offers two in-service Bachelor of Education (Honours) degree programmes and two in-service Postgraduate Diploma in Education programmes for primary and secondary school teachers.
Qualifications: professional development for principals
Starting in 2002/03, all serving principals have to undertake continuing professional development activities for about 50 hours per year, adding up to a minimum of 150 hours in a 3-year cycle. Newly appointed principals in their first two years are required to undertake specific continuing professional development activities. Starting from the 2004/05 school year, aspiring principals will have to attain the "Certification for Principalship".School types
| Type | Category | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Government schools | Comprehensive Comprehensive school A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United... |
Run by the government. |
| Subsidised schools | Comprehensive | Most common, run by charitable and religious (Christian Christian A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament... , Buddhist, Taoist, TWGHs and others) organisations with government funding. |
| Direct Subsidy Scheme Direct Subsidy Scheme The Direct Subsidy Scheme is instituted by the Education Bureau of Hong Kong as a means to enhance the quality of private schools in Hong Kong at the primary and secondary levels... (DSS) schools |
Private Private school Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory... |
Run by various non-government organisations. HKSAR Government has encouraged non-government primary and secondary schools which have attained a sufficiently high educational standard to join the DSS by providing subsidies in order to enhance the quality of private school education since 1991/92 school year. Under the scheme, schools are free to decide on their curriculum, fees and entrance requirements. |
| Private schools | Private Private school Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory... |
Run by various private organisations, and mainly accept local Chinese children. Admissions are based more on academic merit than on financial ability, they teach in both English and in Cantonese. |
| Private international schools | Private | Provide an alternative to the mainstream education, in exchange for much higher tuition fees although it is recently deemed as high-pressure as local mainstream education. The schools teach streams in both English, and in the language of its sponsoring nation e.g. French, German, Japanese etc. |
| English Schools Foundation English Schools Foundation The English Schools Foundation is an organisation that runs 20 educational institutions, most of which are international schools, which are all located in Hong Kong... |
Subsidised | Provide an alternative to the high-pressured mainstream education. However the tuition fees are lower than many other international schools as many ESF schools enjoy subvention by the Hong Kong Government in order to educate English-speaking children who cannot access the local system. |
Early education
Pre-school / nursery / kindergarten education
Before Christmas season in 2006, the finance committee of the Legislative Council approved the controversial HK$2 billion pre-school scheme to subsidise early childhood education. Under the subsidy plan, parents whose children study in non-profit-making kindergarten get an education voucherEducation voucher
A school voucher, also called an education voucher, is a certificate issued by the government, which parents can apply toward tuition at a private school , rather than at the state school to which their child is assigned...
of HK$13,000 per student per year from the 2007-2008 school year, provided the annual school fees do not exceed HK$24,000 for half-day kindergartens or HK$48,000 for whole-day kindergartens.
A schedule of voucher value is set out as below:
2007/08 $13,000 ;
2008/09 $14,000 ;
2009/10 $14,000 ;
2010/11 $16,000 ;
2011/12 $16,000 .
Primary education
Primary education in Hong Kong covers a wide curriculum. Core subjects include ChineseChinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, and General Studies
General Studies
General Studies may refer to:* Bachelor of General Studies, a degree offered in some Western Universities* A GCSE and A-level examination offered to 16-18 year olds in the United Kingdom and some other countries...
with broad emphasis on Music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, Physical Education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
and Arts
ARts
aRts, which stands for analog Real time synthesizer, is an audio framework that is no longer under development. It is best known for previously being used in KDE to simulate an analog synthesizer....
. In some schools Science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
is taught as well. Formerly there were 3 knowledge-oriented subjects: Social Studies, Health Education, and Science. In the 1996–1997 academic year the Education Department amalgamated these subjects into the new subject of General Studies http://search.gov.hk/search.html?ui_lang=en&ui_charset=utf-8&gp0=edb_home&gp1=edb_home&tpl_id=edb&txtonly=&query=General+Studies&web=this. Depending on the religious background of the school, Religious Education
Religious Education
Religious Education is the term given to education concerned with religion. It may refer to education provided by a church or religious organization, for instruction in doctrine and faith, or for education in various aspects of religion, but without explicitly religious or moral aims, e.g. in a...
or Bible Studies
Bible study (Christian)
In Christianity, Bible study is the study of the Bible by ordinary people as a personal religious or spiritual practice. Some denominations may call this devotion or devotional acts; however in other denominations devotion has other meanings...
could be incorporated. The teaching medium in most of the local primary schools is Chinese with English as a second language. After the transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong in 1997
Transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong
The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, referred to as ‘the Return’ or ‘the Reunification’ by the Chinese and ‘the Handover’ by others, took place on 1 July 1997...
, only a handful of primary schools
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
and secondary schools
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
are able to keep English as the medium of instruction
Medium of instruction
Medium of instruction is a language used in teaching. It may or may not be the official language of the country or territory. Where the first language of students is different from the official language, it may be used as the medium of instruction for part or all of schooling. Bilingual or...
under new government policies. Those schools are generally referred to as English as Medium of Instruction schools (EMI).
Secondary education
Secondary education in Hong Kong is largely based on the EnglishEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
schooling system, with 10% being single-sex education
Single-sex education
Single-sex education, also known as single-gender education, is the practice of conducting education where male and female students attend separate classes or in separate buildings or schools. The practice was predominant before the mid-twentieth century, particularly in secondary education and...
institutions. In Form 4, most students of grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
s are required to choose between streams, namely "Science", "Arts" and "Commerce", depending on the school policy. The end of Form 5 leads to the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination
Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination
The Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination was a standardized examination between 1974 and 2011 after most local students’ five-year secondary education, conducted by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority . The examination will be discontinued in 2012...
(HKCEE). The exam is equivalent to the UK's GCSEs or O-levels exams. (This information is out-dated as of Nov 2011)
Students obtaining a satisfactory grade in the HKCEE
Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination
The Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination was a standardized examination between 1974 and 2011 after most local students’ five-year secondary education, conducted by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority . The examination will be discontinued in 2012...
will be promoted to Form 6. The Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination
Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination
The Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination , or more commonly known as the A-level, conducted by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority , is normally taken by senior students at the end of their matriculation in Hong Kong. In 2010, 39,772 candidates entered for the examination...
(HKALE) then acts as the de facto university entrance examination akin to the UK's GCE A-levels. At this level streaming is even more rigidly specialized dividing into Mathematics/Engineering stream, Biology/Medical stream or Arts stream for example.
Prerequisites for university admissions include Grade "E" or better in the HKALE Chinese Language and Culture
Sinology
Sinology in general use is the study of China and things related to China, but, especially in the American academic context, refers more strictly to the study of classical language and literature, and the philological approach...
and Use of English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
subjects and 2 other A-level equivalent subjects. The Joint University Programmes Admissions System
Joint University Programmes Admissions System
The Joint University Programmes Admissions System or JUPAS in Hong Kong is a unified system for applying to the nine member institutions for full-time undergraduate programmes. In 2008 admissions, 35,298 students applied for programmes of the nine institutions under this scheme...
(JUPAS) determines admission to tertiary institutions
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
largely based on HKALE and HKCEE results. However, students achieving more than 6 'A's in their HKCEEs are eligible to apply for early admissions through the Early Admissions Scheme (EAS) including The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), The University of Hong Kong
The University of Hong Kong
The University of Hong Kong is the oldest tertiary institution in Hong Kong. Its motto is "Sapientia et Virtus" in Latin, meaning "wisdom and virtue", and "" in Chinese...
(HKU) and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).
International education
International institutions provide both primary and secondary education in Hong Kong. International institutions like school's within the English Schools FoundationEnglish Schools Foundation
The English Schools Foundation is an organisation that runs 20 educational institutions, most of which are international schools, which are all located in Hong Kong...
, Li Po Chun United World College
Li Po Chun United World College
Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong , established in 1992, is a sixth-form college in Hong Kong. It is a member of the United World Colleges....
, Hong Kong International School
Hong Kong International School
Hong Kong International School is a prestigious international private school in Tai Tam and Repulse Bay, Hong Kong. Founded in 1966 by a group of Christian businessmen, HKIS spans from reception one to the twelfth grade. Its Lower and Upper Primary Divisions are located in Repulse Bay, and the...
, Chinese International School
Chinese International School
Chinese International School is a private school offering the years Reception-Year 13 in Hong Kong. It is famous for its bilingual programme taught in English and Chinese , outstanding academic programme and excellent matriculation. Students come from diverse backgrounds, with over 30...
, German Swiss International School, Canadian International School
Canadian International School of Hong Kong
Canadian International School of Hong Kong is a leading international school in Aberdeen, Hong Kong. Founded in 1991, CDNIS ranks as one of the city’s most esteemed and well-respected international schools, and is recognized as one of the leading schools in Asia...
, French International School
Lycée Français International
The Lycée Français International, or French International School of Hong Kong, is a French school located in Hong Kong. It was given the name "Victor Segalen", a French poet, in 1994...
and Yew Chung International School teach with English as the primary language, with some sections bilingual in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
. International school students rarely take Hong Kong public exams. British students take GCSE, IGCSE
IGCSE
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education is an internationally recognised qualification for school students, typically in the 14–16 age group. It is similar to the GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Standard Grade in Scotland or Junior Certificate in the Republic of...
and A-levels. US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
students take APs. Increasingly, international schools follow the International Baccalaureate (IBDP) program, and enter universities through non-JUPAS direct entry. International students apply on a per school basis, whereas Hong Kong local students submit 1 application for multiple local universities as a JUPAS applicant.
Higher education
Tertiary education
With 8 universities and several other tertiary institutions in just one city, tertiary education plays a key role in the education system. Of the 36,660 students who attended the HKALE in 2003, 18,049 (49.2%) of them fulfilled their general entry requirement to their respective university, usually a pass in Chinese Language and Culture and Use of EnglishEnglish studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
, plus another two A-level subjects (or one A-level subject and two AS-level subjects). Students who sit for the HKALE first time have a success rate of 75.8%. There are 19 different Advanced Level
Advanced Level
The Advanced Level General Certificate of Education, commonly referred to as an A-level, is a qualification offered by education institutions in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Cameroon, and the Cayman Islands...
and 20 different AS-level subjects available. The cost of undergraduate, full-degree, full-time programmes tend to be around HK$40,000 - 50,000 a year, with the cost being higher for engineering and medical students. The reason for this relatively low cost is due to heavy government subsidisation. Being an international city, Hong Kong's tertiary institutions attract many foreign exchange students from the US,the UK, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
to name a few.
The following is a table comparing HK tertiary students enrollment in various countries. It also provides a ratio comparison to the number that enrolled in local Hong Kong universities.
| Country | 1975 | 1984 | 1986 | 1988 | 1990 | 1992 | 1994 | 1998 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
572 | 1,658 | 1,687 | 1,889 | 3,864 | 6,707 | 11,932 | 17,135 | 20,739 |
| Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... |
6,644 | 7,723 | 6,730 | 5,840 | 6,372 | 6,600 | 6,589 | 5,000 | 5,000 |
| Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following... |
2,626 | 3,816 | 3,854 | 3,850 | 3,633 | 3,450 | 2,663 | 1,487 | 1,171 |
| UK United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
4,434 | 6,500 | 6,935 | 7,300 | 7,700 | 7,600 | 7,400 | 5,450 | 5,200 |
| USA | 11,930 | 9,000 | 9,720 | 9,160 | 12,630 | 14,018 | 12,940 | 8,730 | 7,545 |
| Local Hong Kong Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour... |
11,575 | 21,538 | 25,995 | 29,591 | 34,556 | 42,721 | 52,494 | 59,528 | 59,408 |
Vocational and post-secondary education
Commerce stream in secondary schools are considered vocationalVocational education
Vocational education or vocational education and training is an education that prepares trainees for jobs that are based on manual or practical activities, traditionally non-academic, and totally related to a specific trade, occupation, or vocation...
in nature. Students in the Commerce stream would usually enter the workplace to gain practical work experience by this point. Further education pursuit in Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education or universities abroad are common. The Manpower Development Committee (MDC) advices the government on coordination, regulation and promotion of the sector. In addition, the Vocational Training Council (VTC) ensures the level of standard is met through the "Apprentice Ordinance". The VTC also operate three skills-centres for people with disabilities. secondary schools in Hong Kong are going to be cut down to only two years due to the switch in the government.
Adult education
Adult education is popular, since it gives middle-agedMiddle age
Middle age is the period of age beyond young adulthood but before the onset of old age. Various attempts have been made to define this age, which is around the third quarter of the average life span of human beings....
adults a chance to obtain a tertiary degree. The concept was not common several decades ago. The EMB
Education and Manpower Bureau
The Education Bureau is responsible for education policies in Hong Kong.The bureau is headed by the Secretary for Education and oversees the Secretariat, University Grants Committee and Student Financial Assistance Agencies...
has commissioned two non-profit school operators to provide evening courses. Both operators have set up fee remission schemes to help the adult learners in need of financial assistance. Adult education courses also provide Vocational Training Council through various universities and private institutions. The Open University of Hong Kong
Open University of Hong Kong
The Open University of Hong Kong is a Hong Kong university providing sub-degree, degree and postgraduate courses leading to awards and qualifications principally through a system of open access and distance education....
is one establishment for mature students.
Education for newly-arrived-children (NAC)
The EMB provides education services for newly arrived children, which includes children from the MainlandMainland China
Mainland China, the Chinese mainland or simply the mainland, is a geopolitical term that refers to the area under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China . According to the Taipei-based Mainland Affairs Council, the term excludes the PRC Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and...
, non-Chinese speaking children and returnee
Hong Kong returnee
A Hong Kong returnee is a resident of Hong Kong who emigrated to another country, lived for an extended period of time in his or her adopted home, and then subsequently moved back to Hong Kong.-Population:...
s. Free "Induction Programmes" of up to 60 hours have been offered to NAC by non-government organisations. The EMB also provides a 6 month full-time "Initiation Programme" incorporating both academic and non-academic support services, for NAC before they are formally placed into mainstream schools. Hei-Hang Hayes Tang (2002) provided a good sociology of education thesis on the NACs' adaptation and school performance
Standings
In the OECD's international assessment of student performance, Hong Kong has been ranked one of the highest scorers in 2003 and 2006. In 2003, 15-year-olds from Hong Kong came first in mathematics, and third in science, worldwide.Criticism
With the advent of education reform there is a greater emphasis on group projects, open-ended assignments on top of traditional homework. The current workload of a primary student in Hong Kong includes approximately two hours of schoolwork nightly. Along with extra-curricular activities, Hong Kong's education has become synonymous for leaning towards quantity. As early as March 1987, education advisory inspectors became concerned with the excessive amounts of "mechanical work and meaningless homework". In particular, history education has been recognised as ineffective, with critics claiming that the curriculum is not capable of delivering a sense of identity. Not only that, students have to memorise the whole history texts, thereby indicating that rote-learning has greater priority than absorbing and understanding material.Some have criticised the system for having too narrow of a stream focus, too early on. Alan Leong
Alan Leong
Kah Kit Alan Leong , SC is a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, representing the Kowloon East geographical constituency and leader of the Civic Party. He is also vice-chairperson of the Independent Police Complaints Council.-Early career:...
of the Hong Kong Legislative Council pointed out in a guest lecture to CUHK that secondary level science students are incapable of participating in meaningful discussions on history, arts, or literature. Vice versa journalists of arts stream background are incapable of accurately discussing technological issues. The narrow focus of education in Hong Kong has been a concern.
The pervasive perception from observers in overseas education institutions generally is that a typical Hong Kong student compared with other students, even against other students in the Asia region, lacks systematic decision-making confidence and relies on repetition and undeveloped answers. This deviates from the common benchmark of intellect where value propositions are generated from innovation and distinctive solutions, and this has led to much schism in the debate of educational direction of Hong Kong, where the populace makes no such aspiration for intellect but seek constant reaffirmation of the value of myriad certificates obtained through pedagogy throughout their working lives. The desperation to seek standing in life through education is further highlighted by severe ironies such as:
1) Senior education officials often acclaim the excellence of Hong Kong education, yet few if any will let their children matriculate locally, preferring overseas universities instead.
2) A certificate driven society that takes pride in its academic excellence is unable to devise a suitable benchmark of excellence itself, with a low public approval of the local educational system, relies on certification from outside Hong Kong.
Future
As of March 2007, a new Senior Secondary School curriculum was promulgated. Secondary education will move away from the English model of five years secondary schooling plus two years of university matriculation to the Chinese model of three years of junior secondary plus another three years of senior secondary according to the 334 Scheme334 Scheme
The 334 Scheme is the new academic structure for senior secondary education and higher education in Hong Kong. This scheme begins starting from the 2009 school year. By 2012, HKDSE will replace HKCEE and HKALE.- Curriculum :...
(three years for junior secondary, three years for senior secondary and four years for university) with the Form 1 intake in the 2006-07 academic year the first crop to graduate under the new system. Streaming of classes according to subjects offered will be abolished, and the two public exams HKCEE and HKALE will be merged into one public exam, called the Hong Kong Diploma in Secondary Education, sat at the end of the Senior Secondary 3 (Form 6 under the existing system), and expanding school based assessment. University education will extend from three years to four.
See also
- Education in the People's Republic of ChinaEducation in the People's Republic of ChinaEducation in the People's Republic of China is a state-run system of public education run by the Ministry of Education. All citizens must attend school for at least nine years. The government provides primary education for six years, starting at age six or seven, followed by six years of secondary...
- Education in UK
- Education by country
- List of Joint School Society in Hong Kong
- List of schools in Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Diploma in Secondary Education
- Direct Subsidy SchemeDirect Subsidy SchemeThe Direct Subsidy Scheme is instituted by the Education Bureau of Hong Kong as a means to enhance the quality of private schools in Hong Kong at the primary and secondary levels...
- A Passage A DayA Passage A DayA Passage A Day is a Chinese language reading scheme for all primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong, founded by Ho Man Koon of the Hong Kong Institute of Educational Research, The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2000. It is the most populated web learning platform in Hong Kong. Between...
- 334 Scheme334 SchemeThe 334 Scheme is the new academic structure for senior secondary education and higher education in Hong Kong. This scheme begins starting from the 2009 school year. By 2012, HKDSE will replace HKCEE and HKALE.- Curriculum :...
- List of Canada-accredited schools abroad (includes schools in Hong Kong)