About 80% of Primary 3 pupils have basic competency in Chinese, English and mathematics, according to the 2006 Territory-wide System Assessment released today.

The Examinations & Assessment Authority said about 65,500 Primary 3 and 77,000 Primary 6 pupils and 81,000 Secondary 3 students were assessed between April and July.

The Education & Manpower Bureau will study the results and enhance learning and teaching support for schools where needed, to address weaknesses in students' learning.

About 85.2% of Primary 3 pupils and 76.5% of Primary 6 pupils attained basic competency in Chinese, whereas in English, the qualified portion was 79.4% for Primary 3 and 71.3% for Primary 6 students. In mathematics 86.9% of Primary 3 and 83.8% of Primary 6 pupils meet the standards.

More improvements

There was an improvement in the students achieving basic competency at the Primary 3 level in 2006 compared with those in 2004 and 2005 in all three subjects. The same improvement was found in Primary 6 in 2006 relative to performance levels in 2005.

The largest improvement was observed in English - the subject with the lowest proportions of students meeting the Primary 3 and Primary 6 standards.

This year the assessment was extended to Secondary 3 level for the first time. The students achieving basic competency were somewhat lower than for primary pupils, with 75.6% in Chinese, 68.6% in English and 78.4% in mathematics.

Authority Secretary General Dr Peter Hill said the outocme reflects the universally observed tendency for a growing achievement gap between high and low performing students over successive years of schooling.