CHAPTER 9
Education
150
An Overview
HONG KONG provides nine-year free and universal basic education. All students between the ages of six and 15 are entitled to free school places. In 1998–99, 90 per cent of the students who had completed Secondary 3 received their senior secondary education at substantially subsidised rates. Of the relevant age group, 18 per cent are enrolled in university education.
In the past year, Hong Kong continued to emphasise the provision of quality education. The objectives are to broaden students' perspective, equip them with the knowledge, skills and attitude to pursue life-long learning and make positive contributions to the community, while leading a full life as individuals.
About 1.25 million students, or 18.4 per cent of the total population, were in full- time education during the year. Approved public recurrent and total spending on education in the 1999-2000 financial year amounted to $44 billion and $55.19 billion respectively, representing 21.3 per cent of the Government's total recurrent expenditure and 19 per cent of the total public expenditure. Tertiary education accounts for about one-third of the education budget.
The year under review witnessed a host of improvement measures. To give impetus to the school improvement process, the Government has conducted quality assurance inspections using a whole school approach since 1997. These inspections have provided participating schools with an external view on their strengths and areas for improvement. They have also facilitated the identification of good practices for dissemination among schools.
In this information age, it is the Government's prime objective to promote the use of information technology in education to broaden young people's knowledge base, to enable them to acquire a global outlook, and to develop in them the capability for independent life-long learning. Various initiatives outlined in a five-year strategy announced in November 1998 are being implemented. Schools are provided with the essential facilities and support, and teachers with training at different competence levels.
Another initiative has been the implementation of school-based management. Groundwork is being laid for the increased transparency of schools' operations with channels for increased participation in the decision-making process by parents, teachers and community leaders. Schools will be given greater flexibility in the use of resources (including funding) in return for greater accountability. To ensure that the