ENG-1988 — Page 145

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EDUCATION

secondary school places. A further seven secondary schools, planned for completion in 1991 and 1992, were included in the programme to provide for an increase in overall enrolment. There are four main types of secondary schools in Hong Kong: Anglo-Chinese grammar schools, Chinese middle schools, technical schools and prevocational schools. There were 343 Anglo-Chinese grammar schools with enrolments totalling 365 330 compared with 344 and 370 410 in 1987. These schools, in which the medium of instruction is mostly English, offer a five-year secondary course in a broad range of academic and cultural subjects leading to the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE).

Students with satisfactory results in the HKCEE may enter a two-year sixth-form course leading to the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination for admission to the University of Hong Kong and other tertiary level courses. Many students also sit for the United Kingdom General Certificate of Education Examination at both ordinary and advanced levels. Some Anglo-Chinese schools also offer a one-year sixth-form course preparing their students for the Hong Kong Higher Level Examination with a view to admission to the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

There were 57 Chinese middle schools, with 32 973 students, compared with 60 and 34 640 respectively in 1987. Students attending these schools also take courses leading to the HKCEE. Instruction is mainly in Chinese with English taught as a second language. Most Chinese middle schools also offer a one-year sixth-form course leading to the Hong Kong Higher Level Examination.

Among these schools 75 were private Anglo-Chinese schools and 24 were private Chinese middle schools. To supplement the supply of secondary school places, the government bought a total of 47 997 Secondary 1 to 3 places from 48 private schools of a sufficiently high standard through the 'Bought Place Scheme' in 1988. Proposals to improve further the standards of these schools and to strengthen the role of the private secondary school sector in general have been made by the Education Commission and are being considered by the government.

In September 1988, a working group was convened with representation from the secondary and tertiary education sectors, to advise on the implementation of a unified two-year sixth form, as recommended by the Education Commission in its Second Report. One major task of the working group will be to advise on the introduction of a new intermediate or 'I' level examination, to be taken at the end of Secondary 7 in parallel with A-levels, in order to broaden the sixth form curriculum.

Several language-improvement measures were introduced in September 1988, designed to increase the use of Chinese as the language of instruction while maintaining students' ability to use English as a second language. These measures will bring to an end the traditional distinction between Anglo-Chinese and Chinese middle schools, and schools are being encouraged to remove such reference from their school names.

Secondary technical courses are provided for 22 086 students in 22 schools, ten of which are run by the government, while 11 are government-aided, and one is privately run. Secondary technical schools prepare their students for the HKCEE with an emphasis on technical and commercial subjects. Qualified candidates can continue their studies in the sixth form or in technical institutes.

Prevocational schools are secondary schools which provide students with a general education and an introduction to technical skills upon which future vocational training may be based. The curriculum in Secondary 1 to 3 is made up of about 40 per cent technical subjects and 60 per cent general subjects. The technical content is reduced to about 30 per cent in Secondary 4 and 5. After completion of Secondary 3, students may enter approved