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EDUCATION
There are also 60,983 pupils attending tutorial or evening classes where instruc- tion is offered in secondary level subjects. The most popular subject is English.
The principal aim of the 1974 White Paper was to provide from 1979 three years of subsidised secondary education for every child, upon completion of six years of subsidised education in a primary school. In February 1976 the government announced its intention to achieve this target in 1978, so enabling the secondary school entrance examination to be abolished. The necessary places will be created by the building of 33 new schools and the conversion of surplus primary schools to provide a further 13 secondary schools and two annexes; by a more intensive use of classroom space through flotation and extended day classes; and by the buying of places in private schools.
The Governor announced to the Legislative Council in October that a further building programme of 35 new schools would be put in hand to improve the quality of junior secondary places. He said that the new buildings and the other measures would not create sufficient subsidised senior secondary places to meet the White Paper's target of providing for 40 per cent of the 15-16 age group, but proposals would be announced in 1977-probably in the form of a Green Paper for the further development of senior secondary and tertiary education.
There are two secondary schools for English-speaking children in the public sector-one operated by the government and the other by the English Schools Foundation. These schools cater for children in the 11-18 age group and offer courses leading to the Certificate of Secondary Education examination or to the London General Certificate of Education ‘O'-level and ‘A'-level examinations. A few other private secondary schools also offer courses suitable for English-speaking children.
Prevocational Schools
Prevocational schools, which are all fully subsidised by the government, provide a three-year post-primary course consisting of about 50 per cent general education and 50 per cent technical education. The curriculum usually covers three major fields of industrial or commercial activity to ensure that students are introduced to as wide a spectrum of employment as possible. The technical areas covered include mechanical and electrical engineering, printing, textiles and clothing, commerce, retailing and merchandising, hotel work and catering, and home economics. Excessive specialisation is not encouraged at this level, the aim being to introduce basic knowledge and skills and to help students choose a suitable career.
Prevocational schools also provide an introduction to craft apprenticeship. Con- siderable efforts are made to ensure that prevocational school leavers have the opportunity to enrol in recognised apprenticeship training schemes, and also to continue their studies in technical institutes. This form of technical training is fully supported by the Hong Kong Training Council and is being more and more accepted by industry.
With the completion of a 28-class prevocational school in the densely populated Pak Tin area, the total number of prevocational schools has increased to eight, with a total student capacity of 5,960.