Twenty-two schools will join the Yi Jin-Secondary Schools Collaboration Project to be piloted by the Education & Manpower Bureau in the next school year.

With the Direct Subsidy Scheme and three government schools joining the project for the first time, the number of participating schools will more than double. Now in its second year, the project will provide students moving to Secondary 5 with the one-year Yi Jin curriculum on top of the traditional curriculum.

The bureau said the project has received a good response from students and parents. With an emphasis on practical skills training and being geared to students in favour of a practical curriculum, the Yi Jin curriculum has proven to cater for different aptitudes and learning needs.

Top opportunity

The Federation for Continuing Education in Tertiary Institutions together with participating schools will provide the Yi Jin curriculum for students who have completed Secondary 4 education, or people who are below 21 and have never sat the Certificate of Education Examination.

The one-year programme comprises seven core modules: Chinese, English I and II, Mathematics in Practice, IT Application, Putonghua, and Communication Skills; and three career-oriented electives such as tourism, elementary logistics management, and Chinese and Western cookery.

Three modules will be taught in tertiary institutions while the rest will be taught in secondary schools. The bureau said students who successfully complete the programme will be awarded a full certificate, which has been assessed by the Council for Academic Accreditation as comparable to five passes in education examination.

Participating schools

Students interested in applying can contact Buddhist Chi Hong Chi Lam Memorial College (2664 0833), Buddhist Hui Yuan College (2658 1833), Caritas Chai Wan Marden Foundation Secondary School (2558 4133), Caritas Sha Tin Marden Foundation Secondary School (2697 6222), Caritas St Francis Secondary School (2843 4635), CMA Choi Cheung Kok Secondary School (2458 0936), HKWMA Chu Shek Lun Secondary School (2796 8323), Holy Carpenter Secondary School (2364 2730), Yan Chai Hospital Tung Chi Ying Memorial Secondary School (2640 9822), Shue Yan Secondary School (2555 9100), CMA Secondary School (2779 6851), Caritas Tuen Mun Marden Foundation Secondary School (2461 0304), Buddhist Tai Kwong Middle School (2656 7446), Pak Kau College (2448 2122), CCC Kung Lee College (2577 5778), NTHYK Southern District Secondary School (2984 7832), and the Buddhist Fat Ho Memorial College (2985 5365).

The following schools only operate Yi Jin class for their own students: Caritas St Joseph Secondary School (2433 1282); Sir Ellis Kadoorie Secondary School, Sha Tin (2641 9777); SDB Ng Siu Mui Secondary School (2425 8223); Sheung Kwai Chung Government Secondary School (2423 2425); and, TWGH Kwok Yat Wai College (2447 1258).