ENG-1979 — Page 102

EDUCATION

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Education examination. The medium of instruction is mainly English, although prominence is given to Chinese subjects taught in Chinese. Certificate of Education candidates with suitable results may enter a two-year sixth-form course to prepare for the Advanced Level Examination of the University of Hong Kong or the United Kingdom General Certificate of Education at both ordinary and advanced levels.

The 97 Chinese middle schools accommodate 52,396 pupils. Pupils at these schools also take courses leading to the Hong Kong Certificate of Education examination. Instruction is in Chinese and English is taught as a second language. A number of Chinese middle schools also offer a one-year Middle 6 course to prepare pupils for the Hong Kong Higher Level Examination.

A total of 23 secondary technical schools provide courses for 18,244 pupils. Ten of these schools are run by government, 12 are aided and one is private. Instruction is in English with Chinese taught as a second language. Secondary technical establishments prepare their pupils for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education examination but emphasis is given to technical and commercial subjects. Suitable candidates can continue their studies in Form 6 or at technical institutes, the polytechnic or the Technical Teachers' College.

Prevocational schools, all of which are fully subsidised by the government, provide a three-year secondary course made up of 50 to 60 per cent general education and 40 to 50 per cent technical education. The curriculum usually covers three major fields of industrial or commercial activity, designed to introduce pupils to as wide a field of employment as possible. Technical areas covered include mechanical and electrical engineering, fabrication, printing, textiles, clothing, commerce, retailing, food and hotel services, automobile repairs and servicing, construction (wood), and air-conditioning and refrigeration. Excessive specialisation is not encouraged at this level. Instead, the aim is to introduce basic knowledge and skills, and to help pupils choose a suitable career.

Prevocational schools also provide an introduction to craft apprenticeship. Considerable efforts are made to ensure that prevocational school-leavers have the opportunity to enrol in recognised apprenticeship training schemes and to continue their studies in technical institutes. This form of technical training is supported by the Hong Kong Training Council and is becoming widely accepted by industry.

In September, 1979, the total number of prevocational schools was 13, with a total pupil capacity of 9,000 places. A further nine schools of this type are planned.

There has been a steady increase in the number of pupils enrolled in all types of day-time secondary schools. In September, 1979, there were 463,798 such pupils, compared with 462,210 in 1978. A further 60,594 pupils attended tutorial or evening classes, where in- struction is offered in secondary-level subjects, the most popular of which is English. During the 1978-9 school year, 22,046 new secondary places were provided in new school buildings. A significant achievement during the year was the introduction of a new library officer scheme. For the 1979-80 academic year, both government and aided secondary schools with 18 or more classes were able to appoint a non-graduate teacher to take charge of the school library on a full-time basis. More than 100 secondary schools initially benefited from the new scheme.

In September, 1979, the levels of standard and non-standard school fees for Forms 4 and 5 were raised from $400 per annum and $200 per annum to $500 per annum and $300 per annum, respectively. For Form 6 they were increased from $450 per annum and $220 per annum to $620 per annum and $330 per annum, respectively. It was the first increase in these levels in 14 years. The increases are modest when compared with the 400 per cent rise in the average gross cost of a senior secondary place in an aided school since 1965. The