EDUCATION
In preparation for the first Chinese-medium Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination in 1992, the government accepted, in June 1989, the CTC's recommendation for a review of Chinese-medium reference materials available on the market with a view to assessing their suitability for the courses. The review was completed in November 1989 and 214 Chinese-medium reference books were found suitable.
The report of a departmental working group to review language improvement mea- sures was issued for public consultation in October 1989. The report contained propo- sals for strengthening language skills in English, Chinese (Cantonese) and Putonghua.
Institute of Language in Education
The Institute was founded in September 1982 as a 'centre of excellence' for all matters relating to language learning and teaching in Hong Kong schools. It offers in-service refresher courses for teachers of English and Chinese in primary and secondary schools, conducts research into areas of language learning and teaching, organises workshops, seminars and international conferences on language and language learning, provides consultancy services on language teaching and language teacher education, designs and develops language teaching resources for use in schools and publishes books and articles on language teaching. The institute also serves as a centre for courses leading to the Royal Society of Arts Diploma for Overseas Teachers of English.
Over 1 000 teachers attended courses at the institute during the year. The fifth volume of the institute's professional journal (ILEJ), two teachers' guides and two seminar books were published. In the area of research, the institute completed a study on the effectiveness of extensive reading in English in secondary schools and launched a similar study on extensive reading in Chinese in primary schools. It continued to focus on aspects of Cantonese pronunciation and the application of computer-assisted language learning in secondary schools. It also conducted research into the role of classroom observation, the value of language enrichment projects, and factors affecting project work. Two exhibitions of teacher-produced language learning and teaching materials were mounted.
Education Research
The Educational Research Establishment (ERE) of the department is mainly concerned with test development and programme evaluation.
In the year under review, the ERE constructed test papers for the three basic subjects of Chinese, English and Mathematics at Primary 1 and 2 levels, thereby completing the current series of the Hong Kong Attainment Tests (HKAT) from Primary 1 to Secondary 3. The HKAT was used by schools to assess students' attainment in the respective subjects for streaming and grouping purposes as well as for the implementation of guidance and remedial teaching. It also enabled the department to monitor changes in overall standards in the three subjects across levels and years.
The ERE conducted research into various aspects of education and educational programmes, including a study of the continuity of curriculum and teaching practices between different levels of education, an evaluation of the Expatriate English Language Teachers' Modified Scheme, norming and validation of the Aptitude Test for Secondary 3 students and a project on Chinese extensive reading at upper primary levels.
Advisory Inspectorate
The main function of the department's Advisory Inspectorate is to monitor and improve the quality of teaching. This involves regular school inspections to advise on curriculum
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