XN000022-1987-02-18 — Page 29

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987

-

27

+ INSTITUTIONS CAN STILL REQUIRE DIFFERENT SUBJECTS AND EXAMINATION GRADES FOR DIFFERENT COURSES, HOWEVER, THE STUDENTS CAN CHOOSE FROM A WIDER RANGE OF COURSES AT THE SAME TIME THROUGH A CENTRALISED ADMISSION SYSTEM, AND THE SCHOOLS CAN EDUCATE THEIR SIXTH FORM STUDENTS IN A WELL PLANNED MANNER WITHOUT HAVING TO COPE WITH SUDDENLY DEFLATED CLASSES AND STUDENTS SITTING FOR DIFFERENT EXAMINATIONS AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR,+ SHE EXPLAINED.

TURNING TO THE SYSTEM FOR SECONDARY EDUCATION, SHE SAID SHE COULD NOT GO ALONG WITH +CHANGE FOR THE SAKE OF CHANGING+ OR +CHANGE IN ORDER TO CONFORM WITH ANOTHER SYSTEM+.

UNTIL SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE COULD BE OBTAINED TO ILLUSTRATE THE INAPPROPRIATENESS OF THE FIVE-YEAR SECONDARY SYSTEM FOR HONG KONG, OR ANOTHER SYSTEM COULD BE SHOWN TO BE EMINENTLY MORE SUITABLE, MRS FAN ADVOCATED THE RETENTION OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM.

SHE SUGGESTED THAT THE COMMON ENTRY POINT FOR ALL DEGREE COURSES BE PITCHED AT +A+ LEVEL.

ON THE EDUCATION COMMISSION'S PROPOSAL ON OPEN EDUCATION AT THE POST-SECONDARY LEVEL, MRS FAN EXPRESSED FULL SUPPORT.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HOME ENVIRONMENT OF PROSPECTIVE HONG KONG STUDENTS AND STUDENTS IN THE WESTERN COUNTRIES.

+MANY HONG KONG STUDENTS WILL HAVE DIFFICULTY IN CONCENTRATING ON SELF-STUDY PROGRAMMES IN THEIR CONGESTED AND NOISY HOMES.

+THERE IS A NEED FOR A NUMBER OF PROPERLY EQUIPPED STUDY CENTRES CONVENIENTLY LOCATED IN THE VARIOUS REGIONS OF THE TERRITORY AND OPEN FOR STUDENTS TO STUDY IN AFTER OFFICE HOURS AND DURING WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS, SHE SAID.

MRS FAN ADDED THAT THE AVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE STUDY CENTRES COULD HELP TO REDUCE DROP-OUT RATES.

+I SUGGEST THAT EVERY EFFORT BE MADE TO IDENTIFY EXISTING FACILITIES AND EXPLORE NEW FACILITIES FOR USE AS STUDY CENTRES FOR STUDENTS IN OPEN EDUCATION PROGRAMMES, SHE SAID.

/28