EDUCATION
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Following HKCEE, opportunities for progression include a two-year sixth form course leading to the Hong Kong Advanced Level examination; two or three-year vocational courses leading to a certificate or diploma; and a three-year course of teacher training. After A-levels, students may gain a place on a degree or diploma course, or on a course of teacher training normally lasting two years. Those leaving full-time education at the end of the senior secondary or sixth form course have opportunities for part-time study or vocational training all the way up to degree level.
Although most educational provision is in the public sector, the government directly manages only a small proportion of primary and secondary schools; most are operated by non-profit-making voluntary organisations which receive public funds under a code of aid. Tertiary institutions are autonomous statutory bodies receiving public funds through the University and Polytechnic Grants Committee (UPGC). A comprehensive system of technical education and vocational training is provided, with public funds, through the statutory Vocational Training Council (VTC).
The Legislative Framework
Any institution offering education to 20 or more pupils in a day must operate in accordance with statutory requirements. The operation of schools (including kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, and commercial colleges) is governed by the Education Ordinance, which provides for the registration of schools, managers and teachers, and for attendance by children between the ages of six and 15. The subsidiary Education Regulations cover a wide range of matters including health and safety provisions, matters relating to fees and charges, and the qualifications of teachers.
The Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance covers institutions offering post-secondary courses but outside the tertiary sector. The VTC Ordinance covers technical institutes and industrial training centres. Two bodies with an important quality control role, the Hong Kong Examinations Authority (HKEA) and the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation (HKCAA), have been established under their own Ordinances. The Education Scholarships Fund Ordinance provides for the administration of the large number of scholarships donated by generous members of the public.
The Director of Education is responsible for supervising education at kindergarten, primary and secondary level. He also supervises institutions registered under the Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance. He directly controls all government schools, the four colleges of education and the Institute of Language in Education (ILE).
The main responsibilities of the Education Department relate to the planning and provision of school places; the allocation of pupils to places; support for curriculum development; professional training for non-graduate teachers; in-service language educa- tion for teachers; the setting of academic targets and related assessments; the monitoring of teaching standards, and the administration of funding to public sector schools and to those private institutions in receipt of public funds. The department also plays an important role in policy development and review.
The following figures give some idea of the size and importance of the education system. About 1 210 000 students, or 21 per cent of the total population, were in full-time education during the year. They attended 1900 institutions, and were taught by 54 000 teachers supported by a large number of support staff. There were 155 106 candidates for the local public examinations, with a further 232 180 candidate entries for 18 overseas