LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS'S VISIT TO HONG KONG:
BRIEF NO. 3: EDUCATION
1.
11-17 JANUARY
A White Paper, setting out the Hong Kong Government's plans for the development of secondary education in Hong Kong over the next ten years, was tabled in the Legislative Council on 16 October 1974 and has now been accepted by the Council. The Government's main objective is to provide, by 1979, nine years' subsidised education (six years' primary and three secondary) for every child up to the age of 14. This target will be achieved by a more intensive use of all teaching areas in the secondary schools and by extending the school day, as well as by the school. building programme. The Government accept that this is not an ideal olubion, but consider it is better than waiting until the building progreMMO alone can provide the necessary places. It will also mean, at least temporarily, a greater use of non-graduate teachers in the Junior Secondary forms.
2.
In the Senior Secondary classes (classes IV and V) the pin is to provide places for 40% of the 15-16 year age group by 1979. Secondary schooling will not be free, but the fee remission systou will be continued.
3.
As a result of the change-over from universal primary to universal junior secondary education, it has been decided to abandon the old Secondary School Entrance Examination (SSEE) ab age 11-12, and instead to introduce a new Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) at age 14. This will serve both as a leaving certificate for those who are going no further and as an entrenes exam to the Senior Secondary forms.
4.
The White Paper also recommends that the decision as to whether the language of instruction should be English or Chinese, should be left to individual schools.
15.
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