EDUCATION
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During the year, the BOE set up a subcommittee to monitor the implementation progress of the recommendations spelt out in the Report on Review of Nine-year Compulsory Education. A Working Group comprising members of BOE and the Standing Commission on Language Education and Research conducted a sampled questionnaire survey to find out the problems related to the implementation of the existing policy for medium of instruction (MOI) to help the administration formulate a long-term MOI policy.
Curriculum Development Council
The Curriculum Development Council (CDC) advises the Government on matters relating to school curriculum development from kindergarten to the sixth form. Membership of the CDC and its network of committees includes school heads, teachers, parents and employers, academics, representatives from the Hong Kong Examinations Authority and the Vocational Training Council.
As recommended in the 1996 Policy Address, the CDC's functions and structure have been reviewed to enhance its effectiveness and efficiency. The proposal for restructuring was endorsed and the new structure was implemented in September. It not only enables a more efficient operation but also ensures a better integration of cross-level and cross-subject curricula.
A holistic review of the curriculum across all levels of schooling is under way. The core values of the holistic review are to develop students' multiple-intelligence and different potentials, and provide diversity and flexibility in curriculum development to suit the needs of different learners. The review will be conducted in tandem with the EC's overall review of the education system. The CDC aims to construct an open and flexible curriculum framework within 2000, and to pilot some alternative curriculum models in the 2000-02 school years.
Standing Committee on Language Education and Research
The Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR) was set up in 1996 to advise the Government on language education issues in general and, in particular, to set goals for language learning at different levels of education and to identify research and development projects which are necessary for the enhancement of language proficiency and language in education.
Projects to enhance language standard in Chinese (including Putonghua) and English are funded by the Language Fund under the management of SCOLAR. By September 30, the fund had committed around $275 million for 235 projects. Specific calls for application to the fund have focused on priority themes, such as language learning and teaching in the primary and secondary sectors.
Advisory Committee on Teacher Education and Qualifications
The Advisory Committee on Teacher Education and Qualifications (ACTEQ) is a non-statutory body set up in 1993, upon the recommendation of the Education Commission Report No. 5, to provide a single source of authoritative advice on teacher education and on qualifications acceptable for teaching purposes in Hong Kong. Of its 20 members, 14 including the chairman are appointed non-officials. They include school heads, teachers, academics and businessmen. The six ex officio members include the Director of the Hong Kong Institute of Education and the