XN000022-1983-07-13 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1983

+IT MUST BE SOMEWHAT UNUSUAL THAT I AM ABLE TO REPORT THAT THE 12 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED THE PANEL MEETINGS ON WHAT IS A BROAD AND CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECT, REACHED UNANIMOUS AGREEMENT ON NO LESS THAN 20 POINTS SPECIFICALLY COVERED IN THE REPORT AS WELL AS ON A GENERAL PRINCIPLE AND THREE OTHER POINTS NOT DIRECTLY REFERRED TO IN THE REPORT, HE ADDED.

SUMMARIES OF THE POINTS ARE:

(1) THE REPORT SHOULD NOT BE SHELVED. APPROPRIATE

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EDUCATION SYSTEM SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AS AN ON-GOING PROCESS (GENERAL PRINCIPLE).

(2)

(3)

THE LACK OF HARMONY AND OVER-ADMINISTRATION IN THE EXISTING EDUCATION SYSTEM SHOULD BE REMEDIED (ASPECTS COVERED IN THE REPORT).

AN EDUCATION COMMISSION WITH STATUTORY STATUS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO OVERSEE THE FORMULATION OF EDUCATION POLICY IN HONG KONG. THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SHOULD BE REINFORCED BY ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL INPUT WHILE THE NUMBER OF OFFICIAL MEMBERS SHOULD BE REDUCED.

(4) THE USE OF CHINESE AS THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION FROM

PRIMARY 1 TO FORM HI, WITH A WHOLEHEARTED PUSH TOWARDS GENUINE BILINGUALISM AFTER PRIMARY 6 IS SUPPORTED. CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, TEXTBOOK SELECTION AND PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS SHOULD BE RATIONALISED UP TO FORM 7 TO ALLOW SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO USE CHINESE IF THEY SO WISH.

(5)

THE USE OF CHINESE AS A MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION SHOULD NOT BE COMPULSORY. GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENCOURAGE IT BY STATING PUBLICLY THAT THERE IS NO NEED TO USE ENGLISH ALONE FOR TEACHING IN SCHOOLS.

(6) THE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (JSEA) SHOULD BE ABOLISHED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. SUBSIDISED SENIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ANY ONE WHO WANTS IT. A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SUBJECTS SHOULD BE OFFERED UP TO FORM 5.

(7)

(8)

(9)

BOUGHT PLACES SHOULD BE PHASED OUT IN THE LONG TERM. THE QUALITY OF SCHOOLS CONCERNED SHOULD BE IMPROVED IN THE MEANTIME.

THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE NEEDS TO BE OVERHAULED AND STRENGTHENED. THE CURRICULUM SHOULD NOT BE DOMINATED BY EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS.

KINDERGARTENS SHOULD BECOME PART OF THE AIDED SECTOR.

(10) SIXTH FORM COLLEGES SHOULD ONLY SUPPLEMENT BUT NOT REPLACE THE EXISTING MATRICULATION CLASSES IN SCHOOLS. ADDITIONAL FORM 6-7 PLACES CAN THUS BE PROVIDED FOR STUDENTS WHO CAN ADVANCE TO THAT LEVEL.

(11) A MULTI-OPTION_TWO-YEAR CURRICULUM FOR FORM 6-7,

UNINTERRUPTED FORMAL EXAMINATIONS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED.

/(12) OPPORTUNITYJS