EDUCATION
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Primary 6 leavers are allocated junior secondary school places in the public sector through the Secondary School Places Allocation (SSPA) System. The system is based on internal school assessments, scaled by a centrally administered Academic Aptitude Test, allocation taking account of parental choice. In July, 89 282 Primary 6 pupils participating in the SSPA were allocated Form 1 places in government schools, aided schools, private non-profit-making schools in receipt of per caput grants, and private independent schools in the 'bought place' scheme.
A review of the SSPA system was completed and, in the light of this review, a number of improvements to the method of allocation, the feeder and nominated school schemes, the net systems, the advisory machinery and the method of filling discretionary places were planned for introduction in 1988.
The Student Guidance Scheme provides a school social work service to 796 primary school sessions, covering a student population of 410 032.
Secondary Education
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Provision of secondary education continued to expand during the year to meet approved policy targets. One secondary school providing 1 160 school places was completed in the year. Progress on the other secondary school projects in the School Building Programme was maintained.
There are four main types of secondary school in Hong Kong: Anglo-Chinese grammar schools, Chinese middle schools, technical schools and prevocational schools. The Anglo- Chinese grammar schools had enrolments totalling 372 422 compared with 370 615 in 1985. These offer a five-year secondary course in a broad range of academic and cultural subjects leading to the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE), the medium of instruction being mainly English. Students with satisfactory results in the HKCEE may enter a two-year sixth-form course leading to the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examina- tion for admission to the University of Hong Kong and other tertiary level courses. Many also sit for the United Kingdom General Certificate of Education Examination at both ordinary and advanced levels. Some Anglo-Chinese schools also offer a one-year sixth-form course preparing their students for the Hong Kong Higher Level Examination with a view to admission to the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
In 1986, there were 58 Chinese middle schools accommodating 35 585 pupils, compared with 59 and 35 295 respectively in 1985. Pupils attending these schools also take courses leading to the HKCEE. Instruction is mainly in Chinese with English taught as a second language. Most Chinese middle schools also offer a one-year Middle 6 course leading to the Hong Kong Higher Level Examination.
Secondary technical courses are provided for 22 244 students in 22 schools. Ten of these schools are run by the government and 11 are government-aided. Secondary technical schools prepare their students for the HKCEE with emphasis on technical and commercial subjects. Suitably qualified candidates can continue their studies in Form 6 or in technical institutes, the Hong Kong Polytechnic, the City Polytechnic of Hong Kong or the Hong Kong Technical Teachers' College.
Prevocational schools are government-aided secondary schools which provide students with a general education and an introduction to a wide range of technical skills upon which future vocational training may be based. The curriculum in Forms 1 to 3 is made up of technical subjects and general subjects in roughly equal proportions. The technical content is reduced to about 30 per cent in Forms 4 and 5. After completion of Form 3, students may enter approved craft apprenticeship schemes with associated part-time day-release courses