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sector. The two government members are the Secretary for Education and Manpower, who is the vice-chairman, and the Director of Education.
During the year, the commission published its Report No. on 'Quality School Education', which is a comprehensive strategy to promote a quality culture in the school system; provide a practical framework for schools to achieve the aims of education in an efficient, cost-effective and accountable manner; facilitate quality assurance and development; provide incentives for quality performance; and enhance the professional standards of front-line education workers. The government accepted the report in October 1997.
In May 1997, the commission accepted a proposal by its Working Group on the General Teaching Council to set up such a council to enhance the standard of teaching and professional development of teachers, to maintain the integrity of the profession and to raise the professional esteem of teachers. A Preparatory Committee was set up under the commission in September 1997 to work out the detailed arrangements for establishing the council.
Board of Education
The Board of Education is a statutory body appointed to advise the government, through the Director of Education, on matters relating to school education. Its members include the chairmen of advisory and executive bodies concerned with the school system
the Curriculum Development Council; the Private Schools Review Committee; and advisory committees on home-school co-operation, school administration and finance, school guidance, discipline and support services, and school places allocation systems. Other members have experience in kindergartens, special schools, school administration, teaching, teacher training, tertiary education, business and other professions. Two government officials sit on the board: the Director of Education as Vice-Chairman and the Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower as Member.
During the year, the board's Sub-Committee on Review of School Education completed its review on the implementation of nine-year compulsory education and proposed measures for improvement. The government is currently studying the recommendations.
Curriculum Development Council
The Curriculum Development Council (CDC), advises the government, through the Director of Education, on matters relating to school curriculum development from kindergarten to the sixth-form. It has a three-tier structure and operates through a system of co-ordinating committees. Membership of the CDC and its co-ordinating and subject committees includes heads of schools, teachers, tertiary academics, representatives from the Hong Kong Examinations Authority and the Vocational Training Council, parents and employers.
During the year, the CDC introduced a strategy to help enhance the transparency of the syllabus development process and to facilitate curriculum continuity across different levels. It revised the syllabuses for seven subjects in the primary and secondary curriculum, in particular the humanities subjects, to reflect the social and political changes arising from the resumption of the exercise of sovereignty of China over Hong Kong.