Schools solution: Secretary for Education & Manpower Professor Arthur Li says the Government will help secondary schools tackle problems arising from under-enrolment.

The Government will propose measures to help secondary schools tackle problems arising from under-enrolment, Secretary for Education & Manpower Professor Arthur Li says.

Speaking on RTHK's " Dialogue with Secretaries" programme today, Professor Li said due to a low birth rate, the under-enrolment problem will spread from primary schools to secondary schools and more and more secondary schools will need to be closed or cut classes.

There are now about 30 secondary schools with 12 classes or less. Discussions with such schools have begun, recommending they merge with others or unify the number of classes of junior and senior forms.

Professor Li believes mergers are a feasible way to solve the problem, adding his bureau will help schools that agree with the merger proposal.

Other proposals

The bureau will introduce other measures including reducing the average class size to 35 students from about 38 now. It may also consider introducing the concept of small-group education in secondary schools.

He added the "small-group education" concept may help boost education quality and stablise teachers' morale, creating a win-win situation.

When asked about the follow-up actions for the 33 primary schools which will be closed because of under-enrolment, Professor Li said arrangements had been made for all concerned students to continue their studies in other schools.

Surplus teachers hired as substitutes

He said most of the 700 surplus primary school teachers have secured teaching posts in other schools or through the "specialised teaching programme". The bureau has hired as substitute teachers the remaining 20 surplus teachers who failed to get a job.

Turning to Hong Kong's workforce quality, Professor Li said a recent report showed the percentage of the local workforce with a Form 3 qualification or below dropped from 44% in 1994 to 33% last year, while workers with a tertiary education rose from 17% to 27% in the same period.