The Education Bureau will study ways to avoid the cutting of teaching staff, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said today.

There will be 30 additional Secondary 1 classes in the coming academic year due to rising student numbers, but class reductions might still occur leading to a surplus of teachers in some districts.

She said Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung will study ways to help teachers, including the possibility of extending a measure which allows schools to retain surplus teaching staff.

On the topic of Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination results which will be released tomorrow, Mrs Lam said there will be enough spots for 50,000 secondary school graduates to further their studies.

There are 70,000 places for undergraduate, sub-degree and vocational education programmes.

The Government attaches great importance to education and it will listen to the sector when it comes to allocating resources for quality education, she added.