1
2 -
Part I Major Issues
t
Subject
3. Review of the staffing of
secondary schools
4. The abolition of the
Junior Secondary Education Assessment.
Purpose
To increase the staffing ratio of secondary schools to meet the needs of remedial teaching, pupil guidance and counselling, and extra- curricular activities.
To relieve pressure on students and to facilitate the promotion of a more student-orientated
curriculum.
Progress made and present position
The Director of Education submitted proposals to improve the staffing ratio from 1.3 to 1.5 and a series of discussions were held with the Education Department and Finance Branch. Consideration has been given to the avail- ability of sufficient trained teachers, the viability of expansion of the Colleges of Education, and the implications of other policy commitments with staffing implications (the 1.2 teacher/class ratio for primary schools and the two additional teachers for remedial language teaching). At a meeting chaired by H.E. the principles for future policy and implementation were agreed. Details have to be finalised with a view to S for Ed speaking on this issue in LegCo on 11 November 1981.
The Director of Education submitted proposals to abolish the JSEA in 1985 or 1988. A meeting was held with the Education Department and the Finance Branch to discuss the proposals and it was considered that implications for technical and tertiary education, staffing requirements, curriculum development and the staffing proposals in Item (3) should be carefully examined. It was agreed that a review of the JSEA should be studied before any steps were taken for its abolition.
Next quarter target
To examine and agree proposals and proceed with implementation.
To comment on the proposals and to further discuss with the Education Department and Finance Branch when the review of the JSEA is available.