ENG-1997 — Page 198

EDUCATION

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for entry to popular schools. In September 1997, 416 402 children were enrolled in 748 government and aided primary schools. Most primary schools operate bi- sessionally but the government aims to implement whole-day primary schooling progressively. Where possible, primary schools are encouraged to convert to whole- day operation. Since 1993, all new primary schools are operated on a whole-day basis where the demand and supply of school places permit. The government's interim target is to enable, in the 2002-03 school year, 60 per cent of places in government and aided primary schools to be provided on a whole-day basis.

Since the 1993-94 school year, the normal class size in government and aided primary schools has been reduced from 40 to 35 progressively, starting with Primary 1 and extending upwards by one level each year. For classes adopting the activity approach — a more lively, pupil-oriented approach to teaching the class size has been reduced from 35 to 30. The reduction of class size has been extended to Primary 5 in the 1997-98 school year. In order to speed up the implementation of whole-day primary schooling, the government will slightly adjust the class size to 37 (32 for an activity-approach class).

The government makes constant efforts to improve designs for primary schools. In parallel, improvement works to existing schools have been carried out under the School Improvement Programme since 1994. By January 1998, 70 schools had been provided with additional rooms and facilities under this programme.

The teacher-to-class ratio is 1.4:1 for whole-day classes and 1.3:1 for bi-sessional classes. The student/teacher ratio is about 23:1. To upgrade the professional and managerial skills of teachers in government and aided primary schools, since 1994 the government has been upgrading teacher posts to graduate level with a view to achieving 35 per cent graduate teachers by 2001. Up to the 1997-98 school year, 1 015 graduate posts had been provided.

To support learning and encourage good reading habits among primary school pupils, besides class libraries, the government has been providing a central library in each primary school by phases. The 1997 Reading Award Scheme for Primary 5 and 6 attracted 57 000 pupils from 422 primary schools.

At the end of Primary 6, all pupils in schools participating in the Secondary School Places Allocation System are allocated free Secondary 1 places. The allocation is based on parental choices and internal school assessments scaled by a centrally- administered Academic Aptitude Test. In 1997, 77 624 pupils took part in the allocation and 55 635 (71.7 per cent) were allocated one of their first three school place choices of whom 38 745 (49.9 per cent) were allocated their first choice.

Secondary Schools

There are five types of secondary schools by curriculum: grammar, technical, prevocational, practical and skills opportunity schools. The first three types of schools offer five-year secondary courses leading to the HKCEE but with different emphases to cater for the different needs of students. Most of them also offer a two- year sixth-form course leading to the HKALE.

In September 1997, the 422 grammar schools had a total enrolment of 410 081. The 19 technical schools, which put an emphasis on technical and commercial subjects, had an enrolment of 19 496. The 27 prevocational schools, which provide a secondary