TNAG-1073-FCO40-1323-Policy-of-the-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-including-1981 — Page 472

(vii)

(viii)

C11

there is control of entry to primary schools, the

feeder and nominated school system should be retained,

extended and modified to minimise differences;

as an interim measure the feeder quota should become

50 per cent in 1983;

the allocation system should give each school an

acceptable range of ability which can be controlled;

(ix)

the present random element in allocation should be

avoided if possible;

(x)

further research should be conducted into the best

method of allocation;

(xi)

the SSPA system should be kept under continuous

review.

The report has been submitted to the Director of Education and has now

been issued for public comment, which will be referred in due course to

the Board of Education together with a government position; thereafter,

proposals will be put to the Executive Council.

16.

Certain features of the SSPA are also embodied in the structure

of the Junior Secondary Education Assessment (JSEA) scheme, which is being

introduced in 1981 when the first cohort of pupils has completed the nine-

year basic course and the allocation of senior secondary places becomes

necessary. The JSEA is already under heavy criticism in some quarters on

the grounds that the government should not restrict the number of public-

sector senior secondary places but should instead extend the length of the

basic course and thereby remove the necessity for a further process of

selection. However, the government believes that while it should seek to

meet the full extent of demand from suitable students for subsidised post-

Form III education by the early 1980s this target should be achieved by

providing a range of opportunities. Not everyone will wish to proceed to

senior secondary education; nor should all of the post-Form III places be