ENG-2007 — Page 194

146 Education

under the new system to make sure they understand the new senior secondary (NSS) system and support it.

Establishment of the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education

The academy was set up with a $100 million donation from Sir Joseph Hotung and a matching sum from the Government. It is expected to be in operation by the 2007-08 school year. The academy will coordinate programmes to enable gifted students to take part in a wide range of learning domains. It will also support parent and teacher education and promote best practice in the teaching of talented students.

Student Achievements

In the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2006, Hong Kong students ranked second among 45 participating jurisdictions, up from 14th place in 2001. In the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2006, Hong Kong students ranked second in scientific literacy, up from third place in 2003, and remained in the top slot in mathematical literacy, which it shared with three other jurisdictions in 2006 and with two others in 2003. In reading literacy, Hong Kong came third in PISA 2006, up from 10th place in 2003.

As in previous years, Hong Kong students continued to shine in international competitions. Hong Kong teams garnered eight silver and 12 bronze medals in the International Mathematical Olympiad and International Physics Olympiad, International Junior Science Olympiad and International Olympiad in Informatics. A Hong Kong team was the champion in the International Johannes Brahms Choir Festival and Competition. Hong Kong students also won top prizes in the United Nations Art Competition on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and the International Drawing and Painting Contest, and won Grand Awards and Special Awards in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

Medium of Instruction and Secondary School Places Allocation System

Under the revised medium of instruction (MOI) arrangements, promulgated in late 2005, mother tongue will continue to be used as the principal MOI in secondary schools, while efforts to improve students' English will continue to be supported. Schools wishing to use English as the MOI must fulfil the three prescribed criteria of student ability, teacher capability and support measures. In 2007, the Government processed some 200 applications from secondary schools under two English enhancement schemes, approving additional funding and giving professional advice to the schools to boost the English proficiency of students.

The revised Secondary School Places Allocation (SSPA) System has been applied to students proceeding to Secondary One from the 2007-08 school year onwards. The quota of discretionary places for each secondary school has increased from 20 per cent to 30 per cent and the number of schools that students may apply for admission has increased from one to two, unrestricted by school nets. At the Central Allocation stage, students may choose a maximum of three secondary schools from any school net, in addition to a maximum of 30 schools within their own school net.