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EDUCATION
A STRONG foundation to develop Hong Kong's human resources for the next century is being laid by a series of reforms to school education and by increasing opportunities at the tertiary level. To maintain Hong Kong's position as one of the economic powerhouses of Asia, education continues to be given high priority in the government budget, where it receives a larger share of resources than any other programme.
With targets of provision almost fully achieved at the school level, and with the tertiary expansion programme well on course, attention during the year was focussed on measures to ensure that schools can deliver the quality of education needed to sustain continued social and economic progress. New policies were implemented in several areas relating to the school curriculum, school management and learning assessments. Major proposals for improving the professional development, status and working environment of teachers were unveiled in the Education Commission's fifth report (ECR5), published in June.
The Structure of the Education System
Formal educational opportunity encompasses kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools (including technical and prevocational schools), technical institutes, and tertiary level institutions. The great majority of places from primary school upwards are provided either free or at highly-subsidised rates in the public sector. All kindergarten provision is in the private sector, and other areas with strong private support include international schools and schools providing language, computer, and business courses.
All children are required by law to be in full-time education between the ages of six and 15. The core of the education system is thus formed by the primary and secondary schools. However, there is a large demand for formal education both before and after universal education.
Pre-school education begins for most children in a kindergarten, at the age of three. Primary school begins at the age of six, and lasts for six years. At about 12, children progress to a three-year course of junior secondary education in a grammar, prevocational or technical school. After Secondary 3, most stay on for a two-year senior secondary course leading to the first public examination, the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE). Others join a full-time craft course of vocational training; while a small number choose to leave formal education at this point.
Following the HKCEE, opportunities for progression include a two-year sixth form course leading to the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE); two or three-