TNAG-0658-FCO40-807-Policy-of-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-1977 — Page 17

Item 6- "The lack of facilities for supervised homework, particularly

in the resettlement estates"

The following letter has recently been sent to the Education Action Group in reply to direct representations on this matter following the institution of a pilot scheme for keeping open classes in some Government schools for use as study rooms :-

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ss 20/2041/70

30th August, 1977

:

Dear Sir,

I refer to your letter dated 3rd August 1977, addressed to the Chief Secretary in which you expressed concern about the reply to Mr. Hilton Cheong-Leen's question in Legislative Council on 27th July 1977 regarding the provision of a tutorial service in study roOMS. In his reply the Chief Secretary explained that since study rooms cater for a wide range of students of varying standards and ages and from different schools, a tutorial service for them would not be practicable. The purpose of a study roon is to provide a quiet location for the student to do his honeNOTK and to carry out private study. As you observed in your letter and in your recent survey, there is a particular need for this service in housing estates, where home conditions are often noisy and unconducive to study. I think you will agree that the presence in a study room of a teacher tutoring individuals would be root disturbing for other students who come to the study room for peace and quiet.

In addition to practicel considerations, there are also educational reasons why government does not intend to provide a tutorial service either in the form of extra coaching or to help children with their homework. When homework is set, it is on the understanding that the student will carry out the work himself, The purpose is primarily to exercise the student, to give him practice in thinking things out for himself and in using text books and reference materials. It also shows the teacher how much the student has understood and enables the former to adjust his teaching accordingly. If the student wero assisted by another toucher both these objectives would be defcated. Moreover since different schools have different curricula and teaching methods, interference by another teacher may confuse the student and will certainly disrupt his relationship with the teacher in school. The same applies to coaching in general. We would not wish to encourage students to cram for examinations by these or other methodo, kilst we appreciate that students benefit a great deal from parental encouragement and interest in their school work, we do not consider that it is desirable that this encouragement should be extended into active participation in the child's homework.

1. Anthony Ha,

Chairman,

Education Action Group,

6, Fort Street,

North Point, Llong Kong.

In