TNAG-1073-FCO40-1323-Policy-of-the-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-including-1981 — Page 290

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and it was therefore decided that the pupils' personal performance in

the scaling test need not be counted in drawing up an order of merit for

the allocation of school places. This decision was taken mainly to

encourage the development of a balanced curriculum in junior secondary

forms.

4.38

ERE works in association with other research bodies where

appropriate. In investigating environmental problems, for example

a project on the effect of aircraft noise on schools situated in the

North Kowloon flight path, work was carried out in collaboration with

the University of Hong Kong, and the findings (which confirmed that

aircraft noise causes very severe disturbance to teachers during lessons)

were referred to the Environment Branch of the Government Secretariat,

which is considering the general question of noise pollution in schools.

4.39 Other planned projects by ERE include an evaluation of the

'learning by doing' approach in primary education, an evaluation of ETV

programmes in secondary schools, an evaluation of technical education in

technical schools, a study of teacher effectiveness and in connection

with selection and allocation procedures, a study of the difficulties.

encountered by Band 5 pupils on entering secondary schools, and

correlation studies (predictive validities) of the SSPA and JSEA schemes.

As mentioned, ERE will conduct intensive research into facets of the

language problem in secondary schools - including an investigation of

the attitudes of parents, teachers and students towards the medium of

as part of the current review of language policy.

Examples of research at the university level in language in

education include a comparison of HKCE results of students from two

different language streams, the effects of the medium of instruction on

student cognitive development and academic achievement, an investigation

of the language difficulties experienced by primary school leavers in

learning mathematics through the medium of English, a study of the

reading proficiency of first-year university students, the maturity and

instruction

4.40