XN000022-1973-11-28 — Page 20

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Wednesday, November 28, 1973

He pointed out that if wholesale repetition were allowed pupils

might, if they were not fully satisfied with their allocation, wish to

repeat Primary 6 in the hope of securing a higher place in the order of

merit,

"This to the extent it was allowed would delay pupils in Primary 5

awaiting promotion their chance of taking the examination in their due

turn. Repercussions of this would affect the whole primary school system,'

he added.

Combined School Certificate

Mr. Canning told Council that "a quiet revolution has taken

place in recent years in our examination at the school certificate level."

Candidates, he said, would have the option, under certain

safegurads, of taking the examination in English or Chinese.

"Next year will witness the first examination of the new, combined

Hong Kong Certificate of Education; the first step in a three-year process

aimed at achieving complete identity of syllabuses and question papers,

irrespective of the language medium which the candidate may choose to use,"

He was sure that this advance would prove to be very much in

the best interests of both the candidates and the community.

Special Education

On special education, Mr. Canning said ten new special schools

for handicapped children would open next year. Thirty additional special

classes in government primary schools and 22 special classes in sided

primary schools opened in September this year.

This is

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