WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1985
43
PLAN TO IMPROVE EDUCATION QUALITY APPROVED
*****
THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACCEPTED RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE EDUCATION COMMISSION TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS AND TO ABOLISH THE JSEA IN 1991 SO AS TO PROVIDE A SUBSIDISED FULL-TIME PLACE FOR EVERY STUDENT WHO WISHES TO CONTINUE HIS EDUCATION AFTER FORM 3.
SUBJECT TO THE RESULTS OF LANGUAGE RESEARCHES NOW BEING UNDERTAKEN, THE GOVERNMENT ALSO INTENDS TO ENCOURAGE ACTIVELY THE USE OF CHINESE AS THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, BUT IT AGREES WITH THE COMMISSION THAT THE CHOICE OF THE MEDIUM SHOULD NOT BE FORCED ON INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL AUTHORITIES.
AT LAST YEAR'S PRICES, THE GOVERNMENT WILL NEED TO SPEND SOME $431 MILLION IN NON-RECURRENT COSTS, AND $301 MILLION EACH YEAR' IN RECURRENT COSTS ON FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION, UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF MR Q.W. LEE, ARE SET OUT IN THEIR FIRST REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, PUBLISHED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION TODAY.
THEY INCLUDE:
* THE PHASING OUT OF THE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION ASSESSMENT (JSEA) IN 1991 THROUGH A PROGRESSIVE EXPANSION OF SUBSIDISED FULL-TIME POST-FORM 3 EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. BY 1991 A SUBSIDISED PLACE IN ONE OF THE TWO STREAMS OF EDUCATION – GENERAL OR VOCATIONAL WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR EVERY FORM 3 STUDENT WHO WISHES TO CONTINUE HIS EDUCATION. THIS TARGET WILL BE ACHIEVED BY BUILDING 24 SECONDARY SCHOOLS, IN ADDITION TO THE 11 SCHOOLS WHICH ARE TO COME ON STREAM IN 1987 AND 1988; MODIFYING THE STRUCTURE OF EXISTING SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE MORE FORM 4-5 PLACES: AND BUYING FORM 4 PLACES IN THOSE PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHICH ARE REGARDED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO BE OF SATISFACTORY STANDARD. THIS FURTHER EXPANSION OF SENIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY CURRICULUM AND EXAMINATION REFORMS.
* THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE STANDARD OF LANGUAGES - CHINESE AND ENGLISH - IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS THROUGH THE PROVISION OF MORE CHINESE LANGUAGE TEACHERS AND THE EMPLOYMENT OF MORE NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS WITH TEACHING QUALIFICATIONS.
/* THE PROMOTION