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Education
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WITHIN the Government Secretariat, policy responsibility for education matters rests with the Secretary for Education and Manpower. A number of bodies are, however, involved in an executive or advisory capacity in the administration and development of the educational system.
Education Commission
In the light of recommendations made in the report of a visiting panel of education experts published in November 1982, an Education Commission was established in April 1984. Its overall objective is to provide the Governor with consolidated advice on the development of the educational system as a whole, in the light of the needs of the community.
The terms of reference of the Education Commission are: to define overall education objectives, formulate education policy, and recommend priorities for implementation having regard to resources available; to co-ordinate and monitor the planning and development of education at all levels, and to initiate educational research.
The commission is composed of 16 members. Thirteen of these, including the chairman, are non-government members appointed with a view to ensuring that a broad range of per- sonal and professional experience is brought to bear upon the issues before the commis- sion. Included among these, ex-officio, are the chairmen of the Board of Education, the Uni- versity and Polytechnic Grants Committee and the Vocational Training Council. The three remaining members are government officials - the Secretary for Education and Manpower (who is vice-chairman), the Deputy Financial Secretary and the Director of Education.
The commission's second report was published in September, 1986. The report contained far-reaching recommendations on language in education, the structure of the sixth-form, pre-primary education, teacher preparation, open education and the financing of educa- tion. Following publication, the report was the subject of six months' public consultation. During 1987 various working groups considered how the recommendations in the commission's second report should be put into effect, in the light of the public comment received. Major recommendations which have subsequently received policy approval include those on open education and those on the financing of education. The latter entailed a consultancy to advise the government on the construction of a computer network to analyse the financial implications of proposals for improving Hong Kong's education system. The proposals on open education are discussed below.
The commission expects to publish its third report in early 1988. This will include a study of the structure of tertiary education.
Board of Education
The Board of Education was first formed in 1920. It is a statutory advisory body appointed by the Governor in accordance with Section 7(1) of the Education Ordinance, Chapter 279