Testing times: Ombudsman Alice Tai suggests improvements to the special examination arrangements for students with specific learning difficulties.

The Education Bureau says it will study the Ombudsman's suggestions on special examination arrangements for students with learning difficulties. The Examinations & Assessment Authority will also review its resources and work closely with the bureau to meet growing demand in this area.

In its direct investigation report released today, the Ombudsman recommended the bureau:

* monitor the arrangements' implementation;

* continue providing support to schools by organising workshops and experience-sharing among schools and experts;

* assess the need and resources for education psychology services; and

* survey primary and secondary schools on the measures.

As candidates' applications are processed by a task group on the special exam arrangements, the Ombudsman proposed the examinations authority set an earlier target timeframe for informing candidates of the group's decisions. It should also provide a more reasonable timeframe for appeals against application rejections. It suggested a parent representative be included in the group.

The bureau generally accepted the recommendations, noting they are consistent with its prevailing policy and measures on integrated education. The major ones comply with the bureau's improvement measures while some have already been implemented.

Improvement measures

The bureau has published the Hong Kong Test of Specific Learning Difficulties in Reading & Writing for Junior Secondary School Students', which greatly facilitates the decision on special arrangements in internal and public exams.

Another document for teachers' use called Hong Kong Chinese Language Abilities Assessment for Secondary School Students will be published soon.

The bureau said it will remind schools to provide proper exam arrangements for students with learning difficulties and is considering conducting another survey in primary and secondary schools.

The integrated education the bureau will implement this school year will ensure each ordinary school will have at least one Chinese and one English language teacher trained to teach students with learning difficulties by 2011-12.

Schools are also encouraged to flexibly deploy additional teachers available in the coming school year to cater for students' diverse learning needs. The bureau has commissioned an overseas consultant to review the educational psychology service and has plans to enhance services from the 2008-09 school year.

Along with the examinations authority, it has conducted workshops for professional psychologists, teachers and parents to enhance public awareness.

Further enhancements

To meet the target timeframe, the examinations authority will implement changes from the 2008-09 school year. It will:

* advance by four weeks the closing dates for applications to early October and submission of supporting documents to the end of October;

* release application results in two batches, with the first group of applicants receiving results in mid-January and the second by the end of January;

* notify applicants and schools of their application numbers in the processing stage and post their application status on its website; and,

* give candidates four weeks to appeal against the application outcome, and release appeal panel decisions by mid-March.