Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin will travel to Frankfurt, Germany today, following her attendance at the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Governing Board Meeting, organised in Malta by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development, from April 17 to 19.
 

Ms Choi highlighted that PISA provides invaluable science-based data for governments and educators to benchmark students’ performance against international averages, analyse students’ strengths and weaknesses, and focus on the key factors that shape students’ learning as they formulate education policies.
 

She stressed that Hong Kong students have consistently performed well in PISA, with family background and socio-economic status having minimal bearing on their performance, and that this reflects the high quality and high degree of equity in Hong Kong’s education system.
 

She said she believes that PISA will continue to provide useful indicators for examining, assessing and monitoring different education systems, and provide rich insights to inform learning and teaching.
 

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development and Malta’s Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research & Innovation co-organised a forum on lifelong learning.
 

At the forum, Ms Choi highlighted that the 15-year basic education in Hong Kong aims to nurture students’ lifelong and self-directed learning capabilities and foster their whole-person development.
 

She added that the city’s broad and balanced curriculum framework enables students to acquire diverse learning experiences in the domains of ethics, the intellect, physique, social skills and aesthetics.
 

Ms Choi emphasised that students should be equipped with 21st century competencies to cope with the challenges of the future. She spoke about Hong Kong’s efforts and good practices in promoting reading across the curriculum, as well as values education and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) education.
 

She explained that these practices aim to nurture lifelong learners who possess a sense of social responsibility, an affection for their families and country and an international perspective, and who will work together for the well-being of mankind.
 

The education chief also met the Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology Principal Prof James Calleja to discuss ways of promoting developments in vocational and professional education and training.
 

She also met representatives from the University of Malta’s Confucius Institute to learn about their experiences in promoting Chinese language and culture in Malta. In addition, she visited the University of Malta, met its leaders, and toured the Malta Visual & Performing Arts School.
 

In addition, Ms Choi met Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research & Innovation Clifton Grima to exchange views on higher-education co-operation between Hong Kong and Malta.