ENG-2001 — Page 196

EDUCATION

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Primary Schools

Schooling in government and aided primary schools is free and universal. About 9 per cent of children attend private primary schools by choice. Admission to Primary 1 in aided and government schools is through a centralised system, established to eliminate pressure on children caused by intense competition for entry to popular schools. In September 2001, 443 400 children were enrolled in 714 government and aided primary schools.

Some primary schools still operate on a bi-sessional mode but the Government is implementing whole-day primary schooling progressively. In September, about 48 per cent of students studied in government and aided whole-day primary schools. The Government is planning to build more new primary schools to enable virtually all pupils to study in whole-day schools by the 2007-08 school year. It will also continue to convert, through administrative measures, existing uni-sessional/bi-sessional schools into whole-day operation.

The student-to-teacher ratio is about 22:1. Since 1994, the Government has been upgrading teaching posts in government and aided primary schools to graduate level with a view to achieving 35 per cent graduate teachers by 2001-02. About 1640 graduate posts will be provided in the 2001-02 school year. By the end of the 2001-02 school year, a total of 7 315 teaching posts in primary schools will have been upgraded to graduate posts, with the 35 per cent target duly met.

To encourage good learning and reading habits among primary school pupils, the Government is providing, besides class libraries, 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 2000-01 Reading Award Scheme for Primary 5 and 6 attracted 69 000 pupils from 585 primary schools.

At the end of Primary 6, all pupils in schools participating in the Government's Secondary School Places Allocation System are provided with free Secondary 1 places. Allocation is based on parental choice and internal school assessments. In 2001, 81 450 pupils took part in the allocation and 60 229 (73.9 per cent) were allocated one of their first three school choices of whom 45 900 (56.4 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 2001, secondary schools offering the grammar, technical or prevocational curriculum had a total enrolment of 456 500.

Following a review, the Government has developed a new technical curriculum for prevocational and secondary technical schools for implementation from the 2000–01 school year, to keep abreast of the community's changing needs.

The four practical schools, which offer a curriculum with a practical orientation and strong guidance support, had an enrolment of 1 068 in September 2001. 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,