ENG-1991 — Page 166

EDUCATION

good command of the language of instruction, and at the same time to meet the need of the community for people competent in English, the international language, as well as Chinese.

Objective target-related assessments will be designed to determine the most appropriate medium of instruction for each student. These will provide language ability information to help parents and students select the most suitable type of school and inform secondary teachers of the student's language profile. Working committees have been set up to develop the framework and implement related recommendations.

Target-related assessments are also to be developed for mathematics. The assessments in English, Chinese and mathematics will eventually supersede the standardised Hong Kong Attainment Tests, which now help schools to assess the achievement of students at each year level from Primary 1 to Secondary 3.

Three public examinations assess achievement at senior secondary and sixth form levels. The HKCEE is taken by Secondary 5 leavers. Students completing a one-year sixth form course sit the Higher Level examination, which provides an entry route to the Chinese University of Hong Kong. This will be held for the last time in 1992, after which all sixth form courses will last for two years. The two year sixth form course culminates in the A-Level examination, an entry route to all tertiary institutions.

In government and aided secondary schools the staffing ratio is 1.3 teachers per class in Secondary 1 to 5, and two teachers per class in the sixth form. Additional teachers are provided for split-class teaching in language, domestic science, woodwork, metalwork, computer studies, art and design, and music. The pupil:teacher ratio is about 20:1. Seventy per cent of secondary teaching posts are in graduate ranks. The class structure of a standard secondary school gives six classes each in Secondary 1 to 3, four classes each in Secondary 4 and 5 and two classes in each sixth form year, but a number of schools have a symmetrical '5555522' structure. The standard class size is 40 up to Secondary 5, and 30 in the sixth form.

A new standard design for secondary schools was introduced in 1990 to provide additional accommodation and better teaching facilities. The new design includes 26 classrooms, 14 special rooms and three remedial teaching rooms for operating a standard class structure of 30 classes.

Following a recommendation in the Education Commission's Report No. 4 corporal punishment in schools, previously permitted in the case of male pupils, was abolished. This removed a potential conflict with the newly enacted Bill of Rights.

Extra-curricular Activities

Extra-curricular activities are an integral part of the curriculum, complementing and enriching formal learning in the classroom. They are usually conducted outside school hours, within or outside the school premises, under the supervision of teachers.

The department provides professional guidance and advice to teachers through in-service training programmes and school inspections, and subsidises certain activities. Many inter-school programmes and activities are organised or co-ordinated by the department. They include the Community Youth Club, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, the Sister Schools Scheme, the Schools Drama Festival and sports and recreational activities.

The Community Youth Club was established in 1977 to help build a strong community spirit among students through organised activities. Its motto is Learn, Be Concerned and Serve. During the year there were about 30 000 members from 1011 primary and

135