COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL ACADEMIC AWARDS
COMMITTEE FOR ACADEMIC POLICY
HONG KONG SUB-COMMITTEE
REPORT OF THE CNAA TO THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, HONG KONG, MARCH 1981
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INTRODUCTION
The pattern of assessment covered by this report was agreed in principle in discussions which took place in Hong Kong in January 1980; those discussions took place between Dr Kerr (Chief Officer) and Mr Overy (Registrar for Technology) of CNAA and Mr Topley (Director of Education, Hong Kong); the discussions also involved members of the Director's support staff and his senior colleagues in Government. Following on those discussions, CNAA was formally invited by the Director to compare the standards of certain courses in Baptist College and Lingnan College with those of specified comparator courses in the Hong Kong Polytechnic. comparisons were to be made so that the Director of Education could meet the obligations laid on him in paragraphs 6.15 et seq of the White Paper - "The Development of Senior Secondary and Tertiary Education". The exercise was governed by a draft contract drawn up at the conclusion of the January 1980 discussions, and subject thereafter to only minor redrafting by both parties. While the contract was not formally presented. for signature, its acceptance by both parties is covered by the exchange of correspondence.
The
The White Paper proposed that a range of tertiary education courses should be developed for form V leavers which could be integrated with provision for form VI leavers. The White Paper also set out the intention of government to regularise the role of the Post Secondary Colleges, and noted that it had become increasingly difficult for private institutions to run courses of tertiary education at a good standard, while keeping costs at a level that most students could afford. The White Paper stated that the areas where there appeared to be the greatest need to supplement what the public sector was able to provide was in extending the range of opportunities of form V leavers wishing to take a two year course at VI form level, and to continue thereafter for two further years on a course which would equip them with professional or other vocational qualifications. It was also recognised that a proportion of students would wish to continue their studies for a further year, leading to the concept of a 2-2-1 scheme.