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Public views are being sought on future senior secondary and higher education academic structure. The Government has released a document seeking feedback over the next three months on the design blueprint, timing of implementation and financial arrangement of the academic reform.
The proposed '3+3+4' academic system will comprise a three-year junior and three-year senior secondary education and a four-year undergraduate degree, as compared with the current '3+2+2+3' structure (Secondary One to Three, Secondary Four to Five, Secondary Six to Seven plus a three-year undergraduate degree).
Under the new senior secondary system, students will no longer be confined and streamed into arts, science, commercial or technical studies.
All students will pursue a programme of study made up of three components - core subjects, elective subjects and other learning experiences that cater for their different needs, interests, aptitude and abilities.
The core subjects of Chinese language, English language, mathematics and liberal studies will account for 45-55% of the total lesson time. Another 20-30% will be earmarked for students to choose two or three elective subjects.
These may include one or more career-oriented studies offered in areas like business, arts and media, design, services, performing arts, IT, engineering, food and production, or leisure, tourism and hospitality.
To meet important non-academic goals, schools will make good use of the remaining lesson time (15-35%) to provide students with learning opportunities that foster moral and civic education, involve community service or work-related experiences such as job attachment and include aesthetic and physical activities.
Strengthened support
To lay a solid foundation for the new academic system, the Government will strengthen support measures for teachers and schools.
This includes the revision of class structures and teacher-to-class ratios and the promotion of professional development of teachers through tailor-made and timely programmes, school-based staff development and support.
A minimum lead time of four years is necessary to have the critical conditions for reform in place. Assuming the new three-year senior secondary education will be implemented in September 2008, the first cohort of students will proceed to study their four-year first degree at university in September 2011.
Secretary for Education & Manpower Professor Arthur Li said that after years of deliberations and discussions, the education sector and the community at large agreed that the '3+3+4' academic structure served the best interests of students.
"Only about one-third of Secondary Five graduates can now continue their studies in Secondary Six. We have to provide enough places to ensure all students will have the opportunity to receive three-year aided senior secondary education," he said.
"This will enable them to be better prepared for work or further learning. They can also develop in the rapidly changing knowledge-based society, and cope with the challenges of the 21st Century."
He said the new senior secondary curriculum will help strengthen students' generic skills including biliterate and trilingual, information technology and self-learning skills, adding that it also caters for the different learning needs, aptitudes and interests of students.
"By providing a more diversified curriculum, including career-oriented studies, we can allow students to choose subjects that they are interested in. This will help them develop their full potential," he added.
New examination proposed
In regard to assessment, the proposal is for the current Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination and Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination to be replaced by a new public examination, the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education.
"With the elimination of one public examination, the pressure on students and teachers will be reduced and the learning time and space as well as the learning effectiveness will be increased," he said.
It is also proposed that school-based exams be introduced to give a more comprehensive assessment of students' abilities.
He said that the new academic structure will provide a better articulation with pathways for further studies and work so every student will have the opportunity to succeed.
Noting the '3+3+4' academic structure will allow Hong Kong better articulation with the mainstream international academic structures, he said the new system also provides articulation with the local post-secondary and tertiary institutions so students can pursue their academic, professional or vocational education and training, or join the workforce and embark on a journey to success.
"A four-year undergraduate programme will enable the universities to have more time and space to provide a broader and more diversified curriculum and learning experience, such as overseas exchange, to widen students' horizons so as to enable them to have specialised and broad knowledge and attain more balanced and all-round development."
Further investment into education
It is estimated that the non-recurrent expenditure for the new academic structure will be about $6.7 billion, and an additional year of university studies will cost at least an extra $1.8 billion each year.
Professor Li said the Government will continue to invest heavily in education. However, it has been running an operating deficit budget since 1998-99.
Academic reform will involve tremendous expenditure and the Government hopes a sound and feasible financing arrangement can be made through community discussion.
The Government will bear all the non-recurrent expenditure and suggests the extra recurrent expenditure be met by tuition fees and Government funding.
Professor Li said the Government will continue to provide assistance to students in financial hardship and ensure no student will be deprived of the opportunity to study through lack of means.
Education Commission gives full support
Education Commission Chairman Dr Rosanna Wong welcomed the consultation document, adding it is in full support of the restructure.
She said the new academic structure is very important to the future of Hong Kong because economic and societal changes require Hong Kong nurture its human resources to be self-initiating and life-long learners.
Dr Wong hoped the community will share in this responsibility of restructuring and encouraged the public to give their views on the issue.
The full text of the document and other supporting papers is available here. Comments and suggestions can be sent on or before January 19, by email (cdchk@emb.gov.hk), by fax (2573 5299 or 2575 4318), or by mail to the Council & Secondary Section, Curriculum Development Institute, Education & Manpower Bureau, 13/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
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