The reforms in curriculum and examinations must go hand-in-hand with the proposed "3+3+4" academic structure reform, Secretary for Education & Manpower Professor Arthur Li says.

Speaking on three radio talk shows today, Professor Li said these reforms could not be carried out separately if students were to gain maximum benefit.

Professor Li admitted that the academic reform would bring more pressure for teachers, adding that he had full confidence that they had the capability to cope with the changes.

He ensured teachers that they would not lose their jobs as more teachers would be needed after the reforms.

Professor Li said that by providing a more diversified curriculum, including career-oriented studies, students would be allowed to choose subjects that they were interested in.

This would help them develop their full potential, he added.

He said liberal studies would broaden students' scope and increase their social awareness.

He said the Government would set aside $300 million to provide between 35 to 100 hours of training to help teachers to develop skills for teaching this new subject.

Professor Li said the Government would promote the new public examination, the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education overseas to allow students to continue their studies overseas if they wished.

Initial responses from Britain and Australia were encouraging, he added.

He hoped the community would discuss the proposed reforms and let the Government have their views before the consultation closed on January 19, 2005.

The full text of the document and other supporting papers are available here. Comments and suggestions can be sent 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.