XN000022-1973-11-28 — Page 19

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Wednesday, November 28, 1973

Noting that 47.5 per cent of children sitting for the examination

this year were allocated secondary school places compared with 44.2 per

cent last year, Mr. Canning said he agreed with the Board and could not

see how the examination could be dispensed with in the foreseeable future,

as the fairest method of selection for secondary school places.

"Steps have been taken to make papers of the examination progressively

easier, however, so that the excessive cramming and coaching which many

children have to undergo during the final year of their primary education

solely directed towards this examination, will be rendered unnecessary.

"While this is so I do not rule out the possibility that factors

other than performance in the S.S.E.E. might become components in the

selection process.

"Assessment of pupils' ability by schools is an obvious choice of

a factor which might be used in this way. These matters will, I am sure,

continue to engage the attention of the Board," the Director said.

In reply to a point raised by Mr. Wilson Wang on whether pupils

in primary schools who have difficulty in keeping up with their studies

could be allowed to repeat classes, Mr. Canning said that repetition was

already allowed, within certain limits, in primary schools.

"Pupils are allowed seven years to complete the six-year course

at the discretion of the school concerned in classes Primary 1 to Primary 5.

Repetition is not allowed in Primary 6 nor are pupils allowed to take the

Secondary Schools Entrance Examination a second time," Mr. Canning said.

/He pointed