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EDUCATION
During the year, 122 703 candidates sat for the HKCEE and 30 052 sat for the HKALE. In all, 42 subjects were offered in the HKCEE; 21 A-level subjects and 19 Advanced Supplementary (AS) level subjects were offered in the HKALË. The latter included two core language subjects: Use of English and Chinese Language and Culture. AS-level subjects were offered for the first time in 1994 with a view to broadening the sixth-form curriculum. There was a 0.3 per cent increase in AS-level non-language entries compared with 1996 (a 24 per cent increase compared with 1994 when AS-level subjects were first examined).
The HKALE results of day school candidates were slightly better than those of 1996, with the percentage of awards at grade E and above for A-level subjects being 73.7 (72.3 in 1996). Percentages at grade E and above in the two AS-languages and non-languages AS-level subjects were 82.2 and 73.5 respectively (81.7 and 71.7 in 1996). The percentage of grade awards at grade E and above for school candidates in the HKCEE was 65.4 compared with 63.0 in 1996. The percentage of grade awards at grade E and above for school candidates in the subjects of Chinese Language and English Language (syllabus B) were 63.7 and 59.2 respectively, compared with 60.9 and 57.2 in 1996..
In all, 197 299 candidates sat for overseas examinations, of whom 63 420 sat for the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry examinations, 50 142 for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, and 15 850 for the Test of English as a Foreign Language.
Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation
Established by the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation (HKCAA) Ordinance, the HKCAA is an independent statutory body with 21 members, comprising senior academics from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas countries, as well as local industrialists and professionals. It is supported by a secretariat of full- time staff with expertise and experience in quality assurance and higher education, plus more than 1 000 local and overseas expert consultants.
The HKCAA's independence is guaranteed by Article 136 of the Basic Law, which stipulates that the HKSAR Government shall, on its own, formulate policies on the development and improvement of education, including policies regarding the system of academic awards and the recognition of educational qualifications. With this safeguard under the Basic Law, the HKCAA is able to establish and maintain its own independent authority with international links, provide independent authoritative advice on matters related to the standard of academic awards and recognition of educational qualifications obtained in Hong Kong and other parts of the world.
One of the HKCAA's major roles is to review the non-university degree-awarding institutions of Hong Kong and validate the individual programmes of those which have not acquired self-accreditation status to ensure that the degrees offered meet internationally-recognised standards.
standards. In 1997, programme validations were conducted at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, the HKIEd and Lingnan College.
Over the years, the HKCAA's advisory role has become increasingly important. As Hong Kong develops its external links, particularly those with the Mainland and Taiwan, there has been a growing demand for advice on the comparability of non- local qualifications. The HKCAA advises government entities such as the Civil