TNAG-0658-FCO40-807-Policy-of-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-1977 — Page 118

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structure be introduced, they would provide further grounds for the Chinese University to reduce its undergraduate course to three years. The Chinese University, in a paper submitted to the Director of Education in response to his invitation for comments on the sixth form report, has, however, indicated its opposition at present both to a common two-year sixth form course and to reducing its own under - graduate programme to three years, though it has indicated that it would be prepared to consider a review of its own teaching system following the Fulton Report and of the four-year undergraduate pro- gramme in about five years time. The reasons for its stand on the length of its undergraduate programme are given in the extract from the University's paper that is reproduced at Annex C. Although it would be desirable to be clear about the future of the Chinese University's undergraduate course before decisions of major substance on sixth form education are taken, Government would be reluctant to leave the present pattern in the sixth form unchanged for five years. The Director of Education has estimated that the process of implementing the changes to the sixth form curriculum and examinations may take three or four years in any event. Government does not propose for the time being to press the University to reduce the length of its course but hopes that the merits of making this change will be considered by the University Council at the appropriate time.

Findings and recommendations of the Working Party

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The Report may conveniently be divided into two parts. The first two chapters consider the quantitative targets and Chapters III-VIII consider the appropriate form of development for each of the main types of courses within the Working Party's purview.

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In the course of its quantitative review, the Working Party has been impressed by the extent to which our current approved pro- grammes will by and large overcome the scarcity of educational oppor- tunities that has been a feature of the past. A significant factor for future planning is the decline by some 30% in the numbers within the 15-22 year old population, from which the demand for senior secondary and tertiary education is principally drawn. This decline has already affected the primary school age range, contributing to the current problem of surplus capacity. These demographic factors and their effect on the planning of senior secondary and tertiary education during the mid and late 1980's are discussed in paragraphs 1.7-1.9 and 2. 45 of the Report. Furthermore, by 1981 the present number of subsidised places will have been increased substantially by the fulfilment of programmes that have already been approved. These programmes include: the provision of subsidised senior secondary places for 40%

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