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Education

under the scheme from the 2012-13 to 2014-15 academic years, and more than 3,600 Hong Kong students were admitted by Mainland institutions. In the 2015-16 academic year, the number of participating institutions will increase from 75 to 78, located in 14 Mainland provinces and municipalities.

Curriculum Development Council

The Curriculum Development Council advises the government on all matters relating to school curriculum development - from kindergarten to senior secondary levels. Its members include school heads, practising teachers, parents, employers, academics from tertiary institutions, professionals from related fields or related bodies, HKEAA and Vocational Training Council representatives, and EDB staff.

Language Education

The Standing Committee on Language Education and Research advises the government on language education issues. It also advises the Trustee of the Language Fund (which funds initiatives to improve Hong Kong people's proficiency in Chinese (including Putonghua) and English) on the fund's use and the policy and procedures governing its operation.

The government's language education policy is to train the younger generation to become biliterate in written Chinese and English and trilingual in Cantonese, Putonghua and spoken English. At the same time, the government believes students should undertake their general education in a language that is not itself a barrier to the learning process. The government's policy on medium of instruction is therefore to uphold mother-tongue teaching while enhancing students' proficiency in both Chinese and English. Public-sector primary schools generally teach in Chinese. Public-sector secondary schools can decide their medium of instruction arrangements at the junior secondary level to increase students' opportunities for exposure to, and use of, English, taking into account students' ability and desire to learn in English, teachers' capability and readiness to teach in English, and school support measures to facilitate learning in English. At the senior secondary level, schools can select either Chinese or English as the medium of instruction on a subject basis depending on the school context and the readiness and capabilities of both teachers and students.

In line with the policy goal on medium of instruction, schools are encouraged to adopt different strategies, such as creating a rich and motivating environment conducive to language learning, strengthening students' ability to 'learn to read' (ie learning to read independently) and to 'read to learn' (ie learning to read extensively and acquire knowledge) in both Chinese and English, and promoting language across the curriculum.

Native English-speaking Teacher (NET) Scheme

There are over 400 NETs working in secondary schools and over 450 NETs working in primary schools. NETs collaborate with local English teachers to enhance teaching and make English learning experiences more authentic and engaging for students. They help create an enriched English language environment for students and promote the adoption of more innovative teaching strategies. The NET Scheme has brought about positive changes in classroom practice and students have shown a more positive attitude towards the learning of English.

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