CHAPTER 2
THE FUTURE SECONDARY EDUCATION SYSTEM
Nine years of general education for all
2.1 In 1965, when the previous White Paper on Education Policy was published, universal primary education was the immediate aim. Now that this has been achieved, the time has come for the next major step forward, in the field of education, the development of secondary education.
2.2 The Government's main objective is to make available, by 1979, subsidized education for every child for nine years, i.e. six years in a primary school followed by three years in a secondary school. All children should follow a common course of general education through- out these nine years. With this ambitious target, there will be combined a significant expansion of places for those wishing to continue their education thereafter.
Junior secondary forms
2.3 The education at present provided in secondary schools tends to be dominated by preparation for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education and for the entrance examinations of the two Universities. Because many pupils will be unable to obtain a place in a tertiary educational institution, it is desirable that the three years of secondary education, which will be provided for every child, should lead to a new public examination. This will both provide evidence that a pupil has satisfactorily completed his education to Form III standard and will act as a form of selection for further subsidized education.
2.4 A possible system would be to provide special junior secondary schools for Forms I to III only, with separate senior secondary schools offering a further two years secondary education in Forms IV and V. Children selected from the junior secondary schools would have to move to senior secondary schools to complete their secondary education, while those not selected would leave school to enter employment. However, there are serious disadvantages to such a divided secondary school system; the practical difficulties of converting existing school premises; the disruptive effect of changing schools on the education of those children who will continue beyond Form III; and the problems
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