EDUCATION
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at the end of the senior secondary or sixth form courses have opportunities for part-time study or vocational training through to degree level.
Most educational establishments are provided in the public sector, but the government directly manages only a small proportion of primary and secondary schools. Most are operated by non-profit-making voluntary organisations receiving public funds under a code of aid. Tertiary institutions are autonomous statutory bodies which (except for the self-funding Open Learning Institute) receive public funds through the University and Polytechnic Grants Committee (UPGC). A comprehensive system of technical education and vocational training is provided, with public funds, by the statutory Vocational Training Council (VTC).
About 1.2 million students, or 20 per cent of the total population, were in full-time education during the year. They attended 1946 institutions, and were taught by some 55 000 teachers assisted by a large number of support staff. There were some 140 500 candidates for local public examinations, with a further 204 000 candidate entries for 18 overseas examinations.
The Legislative Framework
Any institution offering education to 20 or more students in a day, or to eight or more students at any one time, 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, teachers and managers, 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, fees and charges, and the qualifications of teachers.
The Post-Secondary Colleges Ordinance covers institutions offering post-secondary courses outside the tertiary sector. The Vocational Training Council Ordinance covers technical colleges, technical institutes, industrial training centres, and skills centres for the disabled. Two important bodies with a quality control role have been established under their own ordinances: the Hong Kong Examinations Authority and the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation. The Education Scholarships Fund Ordinance provides for the administration of a large number of scholarships donated by generous members of the public.
The Government's Role
The Secretary for Education and Manpower heads the Education and Manpower Branch of the Government Secretariat. He is responsible for formulating and reviewing education policies, securing funding in the government budget, liaising with the Legislative Council on educational issues, and overseeing the effective implementation of all education programmes.
The Director of Education is responsible for supervising education at kindergarten, primary and secondary levels. He also supervises institutions registered under the Post- Secondary Colleges Ordinance. He directly controls all government schools, the four colleges of education, the Institute of Language in Education and the Curriculum Development Institute.
The main responsibilities of the Education Department relate to the planning and provision of public sector school places; the allocation of these places to pupils; curriculum