EDUCATION
168
government officials, education professionals from the tertiary, secondary, primary and early childhood education sectors, and members of some other sectors of the community.
The EC has completed its comprehensive review of the education system and submitted its recommendations to the Government. Implementation of the reform measures is under way.
The major reform initiatives include introducing new Primary 1 and Secondary 1 school places allocation mechanisms and a comprehensive school curriculum reform; increasing learning opportunities at the senior secondary and post-secondary levels; improving the public examination system; and enhancing support for schools and teachers to improve the overall quality of education in Hong Kong.
The EC has set up three Working Groups to examine the feasibility of implementing a three-year academic structure for senior secondary education, and the future development of post-secondary education and continuing education in Hong Kong. It will submit recommendations to the Government in 2002.
Board of Education
The Board of Education (BOE) is a statutory body advising the Government on school education, with particular emphasis on how to ensure the smooth implementation of education policies and initiatives for pre-school and school education, including special education. The BOE comprises members with different expertise and
and experiences in pre-school education, special schools, school administration, teaching, teacher education, tertiary education, business and other professions.
During the year, the BOE and its four subcommittees, one task force and one working group continued to deliberate on the implementation of education initiatives such as a community support network for life-wide learning, strategy to cope with learning diversity, principals' professional development, reading to learn and parent education.
Curriculum Development Council
The Curriculum Development Council (CDC) advises the Government on matters relating to school curriculum development from kindergarten to the senior secondary level. Members of the CDC and its network of committees include school heads, teachers, parents and employers, academics, representatives from the Hong Kong Examinations Authority and the Vocational Training Council. In July, the CDC published the final report 'Learning to Learn The Way Forward in Curriculum Development', making recommendations on curriculum development in Hong Kong in order to realise the vision of enabling students to attain all-round development and lifelong learning (see Curriculum above).
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 to identify research and development projects which are necessary for the enhancement of language proficiency.