ENG-1970 — Page 108

EDUCATION

73

Instruction is in English, and Chinese is taught as a second language. Successful certificate of education candidates may enter sixth forms for two years to prepare themselves for entrance to the University of Hong Kong or to The Chinese University of Hong Kong. They may also study for the General Certificate of Education (University of London), at both ordinary and advanced levels. In addition there are 33,206 pupils attending tutorial or evening classes where instruc- tion in secondary level subjects, mainly English language, is offered.

The 114 Chinese middle day schools accommodate 48,484 pupils and offer a five-year course in the usual academic subjects leading to the Hong Kong Certificate of Education (Chinese). Instruction is in Chinese, and English is taught as a second language. In addition, a number of Chinese middle schools offer a one-year sixth form matriculation course to prepare students for entrance to The Chinese University of Hong Kong. For those who pass the certificate of education in English or Chinese, higher education is available at the colleges of education and the Technical College.

There are 12 secondary technical schools 11 of which offer a five- year course in English with Chinese taught as a second language. Eight of the schools are government, three are subsidised and one is private. Their total enrolment is 7,037. Like the Anglo-Chinese grammar schools they prepare their pupils for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education (English) and suitable candidates can con- tinue their studies either in Form VI or at the Technical College. Five subsidised secondary modern schools with an enrolment of 3,699 offer a three-year secondary course with a practical bias. There are also 12 private and four subsidised secondary schools with a total enrolment of 3,617 which offer some form of technical or trade training not leading to the Certificate of Education examina- tion. Plans have been approved to provide 6,000 places in three-year courses in subsidised pre-vocational schools and three such schools are already in operation.

There has been a steady increase in the number of pupils enrolled in all types of secondary schools operated during the day. In Septem- ber there were 235,406 such students compared with 221,910 in the previous year. During the school year 12,181 new secondary places were provided in new school buildings.