ENG-1995 — Page 167

EDUCATION

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system of technical education and vocational training is provided by the statutory Vocational Training Council (VTC).

About 1.2 million students, or 19 per cent of the total population, were in full-time education during the year. They attended 2 200 institutions, and were taught by some 58 000 teachers assisted by a large number of support staff. There were some 145 700 candidates for the two local public examinations and 204 000 entries for overseas examinations.

The Legislative Framework

Any institution offering education to 20 or more students in a day, or to eight or more students at any one time, must operate in accordance with statutory requirements. School operations (including kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, and commercial colleges) are governed by the Education Ordinance, which provides for the registration of schools, teachers and managers, and for compulsory attendance by children between the ages of six and 15. The Education regulations cover matters including health and safety, fees and charges, and teacher qualifications.

The Vocational Training Council Ordinance covers technical colleges, technical institutes, training centres, and skills centres for the disabled. The Post-Secondary Colleges Ordinance covers institutions offering post-secondary courses outside the tertiary sector. Two important statutory bodies with a quality control role are the - Hong Kong Examinations Authority (HKEA) and the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation (HKCAA). The Education Scholarships Fund Ordinance provides for the administration of many scholarships donated by members of the public.

The Non-Local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Bill was introduced to the Legislative Council on November 8, 1995. It seeks to establish a legislative framework for regulating the standards of courses delivered in Hong Kong by non-local institutions of higher education or professional bodies which lead to the award of non-local qualifications. It offers a measure of consumer protection to people undertaking such courses.

The Government's Role

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The Secretary for Education and Manpower, who heads the Education and Manpower Branch of the Government Secretariat, formulates and reviews education policy, secures funds in the government budget, liaises with the Legislative Council on educational issues, and oversees the effective implementation of educational programmes.

The Director of Education, who heads the Education Department, implements educational policies at kindergarten, primary and secondary levels. She directly manages all government schools and the Curriculum Development Institute.

The main responsibilities of the Education Department include the provision and allocation of public sector school places to pupils entering the primary, junior secondary, senior secondary and sixth form levels; developing school curricula; monitoring teaching standards; and administering the public funding to schools. The department also contributes to policy development and review.