EDUCATION
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library support for curriculum implementation in schools. The annual reading award scheme for secondary students attracted 4 100 participants from 218 schools, and a booklet containing the winning book reports was sent to all schools. A newsletter for school librarians is published regularly.
Chinese and English are both used as mediums of instruction in secondary schools. Some schools use Chinese, some use English, while others use both languages. Following recommendations in the Education Commission's fourth report in 1990, a framework is being established for grouping secondary students according to their ability in the two languages. To help school authorities develop a clear policy on their medium of instruction, they were given information on the language abilities of students entering the school in the past few years. To help parents decide on the most appropriate medium of instruction for their children, they were also given information on the child's language ability.
In government and aided secondary schools, the staffing ratio is 1.3 teachers per class in Secondary 1 to 5, and two teachers per class in the sixth form. Additional teachers are available to strengthen language teaching, provide remedial teaching, careers guidance, counselling, extra-curricular activities and library services; and to offer split-class teaching of such subjects as second languages, domestic science, woodwork, metalwork, computer studies, art and design, and music, as well as some sixth form subjects. The ratio of graduate to non-graduate teachers is about 7:3. The pupil to teacher ratio is about 21:1. In government and aided secondary schools, the class structure provides either six classes each Fin Secondary 1 to 3, four classes each in Secondary 4 and 5, and two classes in each sixth
form year; or five classes each in Secondary 1 to 5, and two in each sixth form year.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Extra-curricular activities are an integral part of school life, complementing and enriching formal learning in the classroom. They are usually conducted outside school hours, in the school premises or elsewhere, under the supervision of teachers. The department provides professional guidance and advice to teachers through in-service training programmes and school inspections, and subsidises some activities. Many inter-school activities are organised or co-ordinated by the department. They include the Community Youth Club, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, the Lions Club Sister Schools Scheme, the Music Festival, the Schools Drama Festival, the Schools Dance Festival and sports and recreational activities.
The Community Youth Club aims to build a strong community spirit among students through organised activities. Its motto is 'Learn, Be Concerned and Serve'. Its member- ship, from 1 127 primary and secondary schools, totals about 121 200. Up to June, 54 236 members had gained awards under the club's Merit Award Scheme. A group of 38 outstanding members visited Singapore during the summer holidays.
To mark the club's 15th anniversary, special activities were arranged. A huge poster made by members was recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the largest poster in the world. The paper used was sent to schools to be converted into cards, and sent to teachers and parents as a gesture of love and respect. A first day postal cover was released at the end of the year to celebrate the anniversary and raise funds for the Community Chest.
Of the 20 operating authorities of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme in Hong Kong, the department is the largest, with 22 500 members from 190 participating schools.