ENG-1971 — Page 131

EDUCATION

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Until 1971 examinations for the Hong Kong Certificate of Educa- tion (English) and the Hong Kong Certificate of Education (Chinese) were each conducted by separate boards. Commencing with the 1972 examination, both will be conducted by the newly-constituted Hong Kong Certificate of Education Board. As in the former case, the new board comprises members representing participating secondary schools, the University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the Education Department. The University of Hong Kong, the University of London, Cambridge University and a number of other overseas universities recognise Grade C and above in individual subjects as equivalent to ordinary level passes in the General Certificate of Education. The Hong Kong Certificate of Education (Chinese) examination is similar to the Hong Kong Certif- icate of Education (English) examination, but is of course conducted in Chinese. The new board has been formed for the specific purpose of combining the two examinations and creating a new Certificate of Education in which subjects can be taken either in English or in Chinese.

The two Certificate of Education examinations and the Secondary School Entrance examination are processed with the help of the gov- ernment computer which also marks such papers in these examina- tions as are set in the multiple-choice format. The computer also allocates secondary school places to pupils in accordance with their results and their stated preferences.

The Education Department provides a local secretary for various examining bodies in Britain and elsewhere and so makes available to students in Hong Kong many overseas examinations at standards comparable with those in Britain. Of these examinations, the General Certificate of Education is open to both school and private candidates who hold a local Certificate of Education of the required standard, and to private candidates of 23 years of age or over. The University of London degree examinations are also conducted annually in May and June. Appendix 29 shows the more important examinations held in Hong Kong and the number of candidates entering for them.

MUSIC AND ART IN SCHOOLS

The 23rd Hong Kong Schools Music and Speech Festival attracted 8,662 entries and an estimated 45,000 competitors took part in the 401 available classes.

The Hong Kong Youth Orchestra with an average of 90 members presented 10 concerts including one for the Festival of Hong Kong. The increase in the number of performances over the previous year