ENG-1981 — Page 111

EDUCATION

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secondary technical schools and prevocational schools. The 326 Anglo-Chinese grammar day schools had enrolments totalling 385 543 (compared with 386 531 in 1980). They offer secondary courses, of at least five years, in a broad range of academic and cultural subjects leading to the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination; most also provide a sixth and seventh year. The medium of instruction is mainly English, while due prominence is given to Chinese subjects. Certificate of Education candidates with satisfactory results may enter a two-year sixth-form course to prepare for the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination for admission to the University of Hong Kong. Many pupils also sit for the United Kingdom General Certificate of Education Examination at both ordinary and advanced levels.

In 1981, there were 78 Chinese middle schools accommodating 43 587 pupils, compared with 48 105 in 1980. Pupils at these schools, also take courses leading to the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination. Instruction is mainly in Chinese with English being 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 for admission to the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Secondary technical courses were provided for 20 692 students in 23 schools. 10 of these schools are run by the government, 12 are aided and one is private. Instruction is in English with Chinese as a second language. Secondary technical establishments prepare their students for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination and higher level examinations, but emphasis is given to technical and commercial subjects. Suitably qualified candidates may continue their studies in Form 6 or at technical institutes, the Hong Kong Polytechnic, or the Technical Teachers' College.

Prevocational schools are government-aided secondary schools basically offering three years of junior secondary education. Graduates of these schools may continue their educa- tion in the craft programmes offered by the technical institutes. A small number of senior secondary classes are provided for the academically more capable students to continue their education up to the Certificate of Education Examination level and later to proceed directly to technician programmes in the Hong Kong Polytechnic or the technical institutes.

Prevocational schools provide students with a solid general education and an introduc- tion to wide-ranging technical skills upon which future vocational training may be based. It is envisaged that, after completion of Form 3, about 60 per cent of prevocational students will enter approved craft apprenticeship schemes with associated part-time day-release courses in a technical institute. Credit units are given by the institutes for technical subjects which have been studied in depth. In addition, direct entry into the second year of an approved craft apprenticeship may be given. This form of technical training is fully supported by the Hong Kong Training Council and welcomed by industry.

The curriculum content of prevocational schools is made up of about 50 per cent technical education and about 50 per cent general education for Forms 1-3. The technical content is reduced to about 30 per cent in Forms 4 to 5. At present, there are 13 prevocational schools with a total enrolment of 9 735. A further 12 schools of this type are being built and will be in operation by 1983.

Only a small number of Hong Kong students continue to pay for junior secondary education, either because they attend English-speaking schools (which are intended primarily, though not solely, for the expatriate community), have a different mode of financing, or because they choose to attend fee-charging schools.

The year saw the further improvement of a number of consultative arrangements, between the Education Department and various schools, which were introduced in the