XN000022-1988-10-26 — Page 20

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1988

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6 + 4 SYSTEM IS ALMOST UNIVERSAL

*

A SYSTEM OF SIX YEARS' SECONDARY EDUCATION WAS SUPPORTED BY THE HON PAUL COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY}.

AND FOUR YEARS' TERTIARY CHENG IN THE LEGISLATIVE

SPEAKING IN THE DEBATE ON THE EDUCATION COMMISSION REPORT NO. 3, MR CHENG SAID HONG KONG HAD TO BE BOLD ENOUGH то CHANGE ITS EDUCATION SYSTEM IF THIS WERE NECESSARY.

THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE IF THE SYSTEM REQUIRED AND IF IT WERE BETTER IN THE LONG TERM то REDUCE THE EDUCATION SYSTEM FROM SEVEN TO SIX YEARS.

"

REVAMPING,

SECONDARY

'THE 6+4 SYSTEM IS ALMOST UNIVERSAL. ARE WE SAYING THAT ALL THE ACADEMIC EXPERTS AROUND THE WORLD ARE WRONG?" HE ASKED.

HE FURTHER NOTED THAT THE 5+2+3 SYSTEM, WHICH WAS "NOT ONLY ANTIQUATED BUT ALSO UNNECESSARILY COMPLICATED" WAS BEING REVIEWED IN THE UK.

IT IS HIGH TIME WE STREAMLINE THE SYSTEM ΤΟ KEEP THINGS SIMPLE AND TAKE SOME PRESSURE OFF PARENTS AND STUDENTS ALIKE, " HE SAID.

WHILE HE AGREED WITH THE NEED TO HAVE A COMMON ENTRY POINT TO TERTIARY EDUCATION, HE DISAGREED THAT THIS POINT SHOULD BE SET AT FORM 7.

"MANY SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS HAVE ADMITTED PRIVATELY THAT MOST LOWER SIX STUDENTS CAN HANDLE THE A LEVEL EXAMINATIONS," HE SAID.

"IN THAT CASE, UPPER 6 OR FORM 7 WOULD SEEM TO BE REDUNDANT.

MOREOVER, MOST TERTIARY LEVEL EDUCATORS FELT THAT A FOUR-YEAR PROGRAMME WAS REQUIRED TO PRODUCE QUALITY GRADUATES.

**

"HONG KONG'S FUTURE DEPENDS LARGELY ON THE ONLY REAL RESOURCE IT HAS, I.E. PEOPLE SKILL. THEREFORE, FOCUS MUST BE ON · ́DEVELOPING QUALITY LEADERS RATHER THAN ON QUANTITY," HE SAID.

"WHILST NO ONE WILL DISAGREE WITH INCREASING PLACES AT TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS, WE MUST NOT SACRIFICE JUST TO INCREASE THE THROUGHPUT."

THE NUMBER OF THE STANDARDS

MR CHENG SAID THAT, NEVERTHELESS, HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT то ALLOCATE MORE FUNDS FOR EDUCATION,

HE HOPED THE AUTHORITIES WOULD CAREFULLY RECONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE EDUCATION REPORT IN THE LIGHT OF MISGIVINGS EXPRESSED BY EXPERTS, SUCH AS THE VICE-CHANCELLORS OF THE TWO UNIVERSITIES, BEFORE MAKING A FINAL DECISION ON IMPLEMENTATION.

MR CHENG ALSO EXPRESSED SUPPORT IN PRINCIPLE FOR THE DIRECT SUBSIDY SCHEME AS PROPOSED IN THE REPORT.

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