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The standards of open education courses should be equivalent to that of comparable full-time courses in order to match the expectations of employers. As open education
students are likely to have full-time employment and family commitments, they should be allowed to progress at their own pace. There should also be a wide range of courses to cater
for the interests of students. In order to keep these courses cost-effective, the drop-out rate should be lowered to a minimum. Some form of part-time or day-release mode of instruction, characterised by an element of regular teacher- student contacts, is an effective way to ensure a high rate of class attendance and an acceptable level of academic standards.
At present open education programmes are organised by the two universities, the Hong Kong Polytechnic, the Hong Baptist College, the Adult Education Section of the Education
Department and various voluntary organisations. There should be a co-ordinating body to bring together these institutions for planning and collaboration purposes.
My second and last observation is on technical
education. I am heartened to note that the Education Commission has accorded a high priority to the provision of subsidised post-F3 places in technical institutes and training
centres. In order to make technical education more attractive to Form 3 leavers and their parents, I urge the Government to improve the linkage between technical institutes and the two
polytechnics. Graduates of technical institutes should have
better access to tertiary education.