The Education Bureau today announced recommendations on the New Academic Structure after completing its medium-term review.
The recommendations focused on the curriculum and system, as well as the public assessment aspect.
The existing curriculum framework of four core subjects, two or three elective subjects and Other Learning Experiences will be maintained, while 24 subjects will not be updated. Converting Combined Science to a "half subject" is not recommended.
The total lesson time for the three-year senior secondary curriculum would be adjusted from 2,700 to 2,200-2,600 hours, while total lesson time for Other Learning Experiences would be adjusted from 15-35% to 10-15%, giving schools greater flexibility in curriculum planning.
Students of high ability would be encouraged to take three elective subjects, with a maximum of four elective subjects, to further their studies and career development.
The bureau has also recommended that 17 of the 24 public examination subjects would be fine-tuned by adjusting the weighting or examination time, increasing the question types or combining the examination papers.
School-based Assessment has been trimmed and would be implemented in 14 subjects; while the grading of subjects from level one to 5** would be maintained to facilitate admissions consideration by local and overseas tertiary institutions.
Curriculum Development Council Chairperson Prof Kenneth Young said the completion of the review was by no means the end of efforts to improve the school curriculum, but was a new phase of continual renewal.
The Education Bureau will continue to provide follow-up support measures to help schools cater for learning diversity and build up professional capacity to improve the implementation of the New Academic Structure.
The bureau will issue the school circular in early July.
Visit the New Academic Structure website for more details.
