ENG-1951 — Page 75

(4) Military schools and certain others which are exempted from the provisions of the Education Ordinance, 1913;

(5) All other private schools.

In Chinese schools, Cantonese is most commonly used as the language of instruction but a small number of schools teach in Hakka and Mandarin (Kuo-yu), the latter being a compulsory subject in Government Chinese schools. In Anglo-Chinese and English schools the medium of instruction is English with Mandarin a compulsory subject in the former type of school.

Chinese schools, in which English may be studied as a language subject, have divided a 12-year school course into 6 years of primary and 6 years of secondary or middle school. Arrangements have been made to institute a Hong Kong Chinese School Certificate examination in the summer of 1952 when more than 1,100 candidates are expected to present themselves for the examination. Post-secondary education is given at the teacher training colleges and at the Evening School of Higher Chinese Studies which was opened in March 1951 and gives 3-year courses in general arts, commerce and journalism. At the beginning of its second academic year, 323 students were enrolled in the school. In November of this year the Governor appointed a Committee on Higher Education to report on the changes advisable in the provision of post-secondary education other than that given at the teacher training colleges and the University of Hong Kong.

As a result of reorganization commenced in September, Anglo- Chinese schools which formerly gave an 8-year course after either 4 or 6 years of primary school, will within approximately three years conform to a system of a 6-year primary course followed by 5 years

of secondary education leading to the Hong Kong School Certificate examination. Students who wish to sit for Hong Kong University Matriculation spend an additional year at school. It is anticipated that improved methods of Chinese language teaching coupled with the earlier introduction of English in the primary schools will permit the shortening of the Anglo-Chinese school course without detriment to scholastic achievements and at the same time enable students either to obtain adult employment or to enter the University at an earlier age. The increasing popularity of Anglo-Chinese education is shown by the number of candidates sitting for the School Certificate examination. In 1950, 570 students presented themselves for examination, this year the number rose to 850, and preliminary estimates mentioned above indicate that the 1952 entry will exceed 1,100.

English schools are similar to their counterparts in England. Junior schools accept children from the age of 5, and give infant and primary school education. The King George V School in Kowloon

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