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Article 2
There has vocational guidance the 1970s and 1980s.
been a rapid expansion in subsidised education, in and vocational/technical education and training during
Six years of free and compulsory primary education was introduced in 1971. Commencing in September 1978 the government began a phased programme of extending the provision of free education from six to nine years by 1
by 1 September 1980 up to junior secondary level (Secondary Three). The Education Ordinance empowers the Director of Education to issue attendance orders to parents of those children who are under the age of 15 and who have not finished junior secondary education requiring them to cause their children to attend school.
In view of the increasingly sophisticated requirements of the industries as well as the economy, the minimum nine years of general education includes practical subjects which foster an understanding of design and principles, concepts and skills related to technology and materials in order to provide a foundation for further education and industrial training.
The three-year junior secondary education includes a choice of with a schools. Among them are a number of pre-vocational schools curriculum content of approximately 60 per cent general subjects and 40 per cent technical subjects and practical work.
On completing the three-year junior secondary course, students will undergo the Junior Secondary Education Assessment which decides whether they can enter senior secondary classes in public sector schools, technical institutes
institutes or industrial training centres. Private schools without bought places will continue to offer an alternative for those who to continue with their studies but who are not eligible for subsidised education in senior secondary classes.
After junior secondary education, any young person not continuing full-time education may take up
ordinary employment or a craft apprenticeship. An employer of an apprentice in a trade designated under the Apprenticeship Ordinance is required
is required to release the apprentice to attend a relevant part-time day-release course in a technical institute.
Full-time technical education is provided in the eight technical institutes of the
the Vocational Training Council for students completing the three-year junior secondary education as well as those completing senior secondary education. Related part-time
Related part-time day-release
day-release courses are also available in the institutes to complement the training provided for the apprentices and trainees by employers. In addition, evening courses are offered to the public.
Tertiary education subsidised from public funds is provided by the two universities,
polytechnics, a tertiary college, three colleges of education, a technical teachers' college, nurse training schools, eight technical institutes and two approved post-secondary colleges registered under the Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance. A third university will begin admission of students in October 1991.
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