10 EDUCATION
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DURING 1996, the government continued to accord high priority to education and to implement its targets for improving the quality of education. These efforts included providing additional support to schools with a high proportion of low achievers, helping immigrant children from China integrate into the mainstream schools, and taking measures to ensure that students and graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills to meet Hong Kong's changing economic needs.
The government is continuing to implement the recommendations of the Education Commission Report No. 6 on language proficiency. These include the setting up of a Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR) and encouraging schools to employ more native qualified English language teachers to teach the subject.
The reviews on the Kindergarten Subsidy Scheme, the Primary Graduate Teacher Posts Scheme and support measures for immigrant children from China were completed and improvements introduced in the 1996-97 school year. Proposals for improving the practical and technical curricula offered in prevocational and secondary technical schools are being finalised. The review on the compulsory education system is under way.
The Education System
About 1.2 million students, or 20 per cent of the total population, were in full-time education during the year. They attended 2 400 institutions and were taught by some 59 000 teachers assisted by a large number of support staff. There were some 143 500 candidates for the two local public examinations and 209 000 entries for overseas examinations.
Educational opportunities in Hong Kong encompass kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, technical institutes, technical colleges and tertiary institutions. The majority of places from primary school upwards are provided either free of charge or at highly subsidised rates. Kindergartens are run by private organisations, as are international schools and commercial schools providing language, computer and business courses.
All children must, by law, be in full-time education from the age of six to their 15th birthday or completion of Secondary 3, whichever is earlier.
Most children attend kindergarten from the age of three. Primary school normally begins at the age of six, and lasts for six years. At about 12, children progress to a three-year junior secondary course. After Secondary 3, most stay on for a two-year senior secondary course leading to the first public examination, the Hong Kong