ENG-2004 — Page 216

178 | Education

The Education Ordinance has been amended to provide for the participation of key stakeholders in schools' decision-making processes and the incorporation of school management committees.

The implementation of school-based management has been accompanied by an increasing emphasis on the school self-evaluation processes. Quality Assurance Inspections conducted by the EMB are being transformed into a new mode of external school review (ESR) to validate school self-evaluation (SSE) and provide an external impetus for schools to set priorities for improvement. By July 2004, 99 schools have undergone the ESR. It is anticipated that the EMB will conduct ESR in all schools within an anticipated four years and validate their SSE.

Governing Bodies of Tertiary Institutions

Each tertiary institution has its own structure of governance, as set out in its ordinance. The structure normally includes a governing body (called the council or the court) and a body to regulate academic affairs (called the senate or the academic board).

The Chief Executive of the HKSAR, or in his capacity as Chancellor of the universities, is empowered by the ordinances to appoint the chairman of each governing body, as well as a prescribed number of members. This ensures a balanced distribution of members from the industrial, commercial and academic fields.

Curriculum Development

Curriculum Development Council

The Curriculum Development Council (CDC) is an advisory body that makes recommendations to the Government on all matters relating to school curriculum development from kindergarten to senior secondary forms. Its membership includes heads of schools, practising teachers, parents, employers, academics from tertiary institutions, professionals from related fields or related bodies, representatives from the HKEAA and the VTC, as well as officers from the EMB.

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.

The CDC has developed a "Basic Education Curriculum Guide" setting out the themes essential for whole-school curriculum development, and school curriculum leaders have been appointed to support primary school heads in curriculum development. Other support measures include Seed (Research and Development) Projects which generate useful knowledge and experiences in the context of learning and teaching for other schools' reference and resources to support the new curricula.

The Curriculum

The school curriculum in Hong Kong is defined in terms of the five essential learning experiences, i.e. moral and civic education, intellectual development,