ENG-1998 — Page 192

EDUCATION

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the School Improvement Programme since 1994. By January 1999, 99 schools were scheduled to have received additional facilities under this programme.

The student-to-teacher ratio is about 22.1:1. To upgrade the professional and managerial skills of teachers, since 1994 the government has been upgrading teacher posts in government and aided primary schools to graduate level with a view to achieving 35 per cent graduate teachers by 2001-02. About 1 380 graduate posts will be created in the 1998–99 school year, increasing to 1 640 each year in the 1999–2000 to 2001-02 school years. Up to the 1998-99 school year, a total of 2 395 graduate posts have been provided, representing 12 per cent of primary teaching posts.

To encourage good learning and reading habits among primary school pupils, besides class libraries, the government is providing a central library in each primary school by phases. A teacher-librarian is provided to manage the school central library and to organise library activities for the pupils. The 1998 Reading Award Scheme for Primary 5 and 6 attracted 58 000 pupils from 432 primary schools.

At the end of Primary 6, all pupils in schools participating in the government's Secondary School Places Allocation System are provided free Secondary 1 places. Allocation is based on parental choice and internal school assessments scaled by a centrally-administered Academic Aptitude Test. In 1998, 72 776 pupils took part in the allocation and 51 484 (70.7 per cent) were allocated one of their first three school place choices of whom 36 086 (49.6 per cent) were allocated their first choice.

Secondary Schools

There are five types of secondary curriculum: grammar, technical, prevocational, practical and skills opportunity. The first three types of curriculum are offered in five-year secondary courses leading to the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) but with different emphases to cater for students' different needs. A two-year sixth-form course leading to the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination is available. In September 1998, secondary schools offering the grammar, technical or prevocational curriculum had a total enrolment of 455 400.

Following a review, the government is developing a new technical curriculum for prevocational and secondary technical schools for implementation from the 2000–01 school year, to keep abreast of the changing needs of the community.

The four practical schools, which offer a curriculum with a practical orientation and strong guidance support, had an enrolment of 1 190 in September 1998. They offer a three-year junior secondary education to help students develop their interest in and motivation towards studies, and prepare them for vocational training, employment or senior secondary education in mainstream schools. The seven skills opportunity schools, which offer a three-year tailor-made and skills-orientated curriculum to help students with learning difficulties acquire basic social and vocational skills, had an enrolment of 951 in September 1998.

Secondary 3 leavers are selected for subsidised places in Secondary 4 or basic craft courses, according to internal school assessments and parental preference. In 1998, 80 100 students took part in the selection exercise, of whom 69 207 (86.4 per cent) secured Secondary 4 places in public sector schools, and 3 781 (4.7 per cent) were admitted to basic craft courses. HKCEE candidates applied for subsidised Secondary 6 places according to an established Secondary 6 admission procedure. The 1998-99 school year had 24 260 subsidised Secondary 6 places.