CO129-603-2 Education Department- revised grant code 5-4-1948 - 6-1-1949 — Page 119

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

119

We are unanimously agreed that the examination will best fulfil its purpose if there are no compulsory subjects and no limitation as to the number of subjects offered.

We would distinguish sharply between compulsion to study a subject in school and compulsion to offer it as an examination subject. We agree that there are certain fundamental subjects which, in the type of school with which we are concerned, should form part of the curriculum for every child. Nevertheless we feel that it rests with the school itself, assisted by adequate inspection (and, if necessary, direction), to ensure that the education it provides includes these essential elements; and that they are treated as important in their own right, not merely as necessary steps to the gaining of a coveted certificate. Actual attainment in these subjects will vary, even among the intelligent, from many causes, and particularly under the strain of rigid compulsion; and to fix a specified standard of all-round performance, or even of performance in a single subject, as a necessary pre- requisite for recognition of positive achievement in other directions, is in our opinion unsound and undesirable.

b

We recommend therefore :-

that there be no compulsory subjects of examination; that there be no restriction on the number of subjects

offered; and

(c) that a certificate of performance be granted to any

candidate who passes in one or more of the subjects of the examination.

We propose that the subjects of the examination should be :-

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7。

English Language

English Literature

Chinese Language (including Kwok Yu)

Chinese Literature.

Chinese History

Subjects of the

4.

examination.

8.

9.

10.

French

Portuguese

Any other approved language (special fee required) Mathematics

Additional Mathematics

General Science (not with any of Subjects 12, 13,

14, 15

Physics-with-Chemistry (not with Subjects 12 or 13)

11.

12.

Physics

13.

Chemistry

14.

15.

Biology

16.

Hygiene

17.

History

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

Goography

Biblical Knowledge

Housecraft

Art

Music

Handicraft

The examination throughout to be conducted in the English language.

Where, for any reason, it is not immediately practicable to hold an examination in any of the above subjects, we recommend that it should be introduced at the earliest opportunity.

It is not proposed to prohibit candidates from offering subjects which are outside their normal school curriculum; but, as a safeguard against indiscriminate and irresponsible entries, we recommend that Heads of

/Schools

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