This diagram also shows that with the proportions which we have rec- ommended for Secondary Technical places and Prevocational places respectively, 39% of the 12-14 age-group to be given 3 years of post- primary education will be in schools offering a technical-oriented educa- tion and a further 13% will be in grammar schools following courses with a broader and more practical curriculum; with regard to the 5-year course leading to a Certificate of Education, 28% of this 12-16 age- group will be following a curriculum which is no longer intensively academic.
21. Bearing in mind the points already referred to in paragraph 9 concerning the imbalance that now exists in Hong Kong's system of secondary education and the concern expressed on this matter in the various submissions received by the Board of Education, it is our opinion that the proportions which we have recommended will achieve that blend of the educational needs of the young people of Hong Kong and the social and economic needs of our community. We consider that these proportions can be achieved within the time available and the community's resources.
22. However, as we have already stated, we are aware of the need to maintain a degree of flexibility in the proportion of academic to vocational secondary education, particularly because of the fluidity of social and economic factors in Hong Kong and the absence of reliable economic and demographic information on which to base judgement for the future.
23. We are conscious of the difficulties involved in financing expan- sion of secondary education on a scale as large as that upon which we have been asked to advise. We realize that some constraint may be placed upon the pace of development such as we have recommended and that the degree and character of such constraints may well vary from time to time.
24. In later chapters, we examine bi-sessional operation and alter- native methods of speeding expansion and consider the problems of building development and teacher provision. We note the present substantial disproportion of grammar school places, which cannot rapidly be remedied.
25. After taking into account all these factors, we consider it impos- sible to achieve the ultimate objective we have recommended by 1980.
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