ENG-2003 — Page 189

CHAPTER 7

Education

The Government has been investing heavily in education to enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness in a knowledge-based and globalised economy. Approved recurrent public expenditure and total public expenditure on education in the 2003-04 financial year amounted to $49.3 billion and $61 billion respectively, representing 23.8 per cent of both recurrent and total government expenditure.

SINCE October 2000, the Government has implemented a comprehensive education reform for various stages of education from early childhood to tertiary and continuing education. The overall objective of the reform is to promote all-round education for all and to inculcate in young people the motivation and ability for lifelong learning so that they can keep up with the pace of change in the new millennium.

The reform covers a wide range of initiatives, including reform of the curriculum, teaching practices, admission systems and assessment mechanisms. Measures have also been introduced to increase opportunities for senior secondary and post- secondary education, provide more choice and diversity; empower schools and in return, increase the transparency and accountability of schools; and step up the professional development of principals and teachers as well as support for them.

It is generally observed that since the abolition of the Academic Aptitude Test, children are happier at school and they now have more chance to attain deeper understanding through project work and experiential learning activities; that good practices and knowledge generated through action research in professional learning communities are shared more widely within and among schools; and that parents are more involved in their children's learning and are volunteering their services more actively in support of the schools.

Key Achievements in 2003

Curriculum Reform

The curriculum reform is the core component of the education reform. It aims to motivate students to learn, to enhance their knowledge and abilities, and develop in them positive values and attitudes to establish a solid foundation for lifelong learning and whole-person development.

In response to the need for curriculum development in schools, the Curriculum Development Council (CDC) developed in 2002 a 'Basic Education Curriculum. Guide' setting out the themes essential for whole-school curriculum development.

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