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Latest Education News 

Jan 25, 2010

Education

New diploma gains British recognition

Hong Kong's Diploma of Secondary Education has been accepted by the UK's Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) onto the Tariff - a points-based system benchmarking qualifications against the UK's GCE A Level to assess their suitability for higher education.

Examinations & Assessment Authority Secretary-General Dr Francis Cheung said today, following a comparability study, the UCAS board endorsed an expert group's recommendations to include the diploma in the tariff system, representing a significant milestone in the international recognition of the diploma's qualification for access to higher education.

The Tariff covers a wide range of qualifications awarded by different examinations systems, including the Advanced Placement Programme in the US and Canada, the International Baccalaureate Diploma and the CIE Cambridge Pre-U Diploma.

"The inclusion of [the diploma] in the UCAS Tariff allows broad comparisons to be made between applicants holding different qualifications," Dr Cheung said.

Tariff points

Tariff points are awarded to 24 diploma subjects. Except for mathematics which carries a unique structure, an overall subject point score is recommended for the other 23 diploma subjects.

For example, the attainment of Level 5 in a diploma subject will be awarded 120 points and aligned to GCE A Level's Grade A. Level 3 will have 40 points, which is comparable to GCE A Level's Grade E.

Tariff points for the highest level of achievement, Level 5**, will be allocated when further evidence can be gathered after the first administration of the diploma examinations in 2012, Dr Cheung added.

Maths calculation

As the mathematics curriculum consists of a compulsory part and an extended part, and candidates' attainments in the two parts will be reported independently, tariff points will be awarded separately.

When students apply for UK university programmes requiring maths as an elective subject, the attainment and subsequent tariff points gained in both parts will be considered together. For example, a student getting Level 5* in the compulsory part and Level 5 in the extended part will be awarded 120 points, which is aligned to the GCE A Level's Grade A.

While most UK universities and colleges will formulate their admission policies with reference to UCAS Tariff points, Dr Cheung said the authority will continue to promote the qualification to universities in popular destination countries for further education like Australia, Canada and the US, and request for early indication of admission requirements for applicants holding the diploma.

(Source: http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/atschool/100125/html/100125en02004.htm)

Aug 6, 2009

Education

Land allocated for 4 int'l schools

Four sites in Kowloon and the New Territories have been allocated for international school development.

Secretary for Education Michael Suen said today the new schools will provide 3,500 primary and secondary school places. Applications from 14 organisations were received.

The site at the junction of Kai Cheung and Wang Kwong Roads in Kowloon Bay went to the Kellett School Association. The site at the former Lai Chi Kok cottage area on King Lam Street went to the Trustees of the Kowloon Tong Church of the Chinese Christian & Missionary Alliance, and land at the junction of Wai Man Road and Mei Yuen Street in Sai Kung went to the Academy Educational Foundation.

Each of these sites will be used for primary-cum-secondary schools, for expansion or relocation of the bidders' existing international schools.

The site at Area 48 on Castle Peak Road in Tuen Mun went to Harrow International School for a new international boarding school on a pilot basis operating both primary and secondary sections. The boarding places will be for secondary students.

The Education Bureau expects an additional provision of 1,300 primary and 2,200 secondary school places progressively from the 2012-13 school year.

"The Government supports the development of a vibrant international school sector in Hong Kong to underpin our aspiration to be an Asian world city," Mr Suen said.

"I am encouraged by the keen interest from the community in the expansion of Hong Kong's international school sector and I believe it has been a step forward for Hong Kong to develop a vibrant international school community attracting students from different parts of the increasingly interconnected world as well as to help develop education as an economic area in Hong Kong."

(Source: http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/atschool/090806/html/090806en02002.htm)

July 8, 2009

Education

Education chief urges 'determination, creativity'

School exchange: Secretary for Education Michael Suen meets Singapore Minister of Education Dr Ng Eng Hen.

Hong Kong needs determination and creativity to build on its foundations to ensure a bright future for the city and its people, Secretary for Education Michael Suen says.

Delivering a keynote speech at a Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office dinner in Singapore tonight, Mr Suen spoke about Hong Kong's latest endeavours to nurture its home-grown talent. He said the city must capitalise on its strengths to better equip its youth with broad-based knowledge, a lifelong learning attitude, and skills to respond to an ever-changing world.

He spoke about the vital role governments have to play in preparing young people for future challenges, outlining the new initiatives Hong Kong has taken in the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors.

"We need to emphasise and encourage greater interpersonal relationships and communication skills. We also need to go back to basics to instill a deeper sense of moral values to ensure mental discipline and character building," Mr Suen said.

"As a city with virtually no natural resources, Hong Kong regards human capital as its main asset. Lots of efforts are being made to nurture our home-grown talent. Like Singapore, Hong Kong places a high priority on education. Education [is] the single largest area of government expenditure [in] Hong Kong."

Conference calls

Mr Suen also held meetings with Singapore's Minister of Education Dr Ng Eng Hen. They discussed the development of education services and the provision of them to students, including those from overseas.

He visited Nanyang Primary School to inspect its work with gifted students and Bedok View Secondary School to see how it has enhanced its teaching and learning through a close-knit circle of teachers.

In a meeting with the Economic Development Board, Mr Suen was briefed by its Executive Director Human Capital Toh Wee Khiang on the Global Schoolhouse initiative. The board is one of the key agencies in marketing and promoting Singapore education overseas.

Mr Suen returns to Hong Kong tomorrow.

(Source: http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/atschool/090709/html/090709en02002.htm)

July 7, 2009

Education

Long-term research to aid education upgrade

Hong Kong will devise a long-term research agenda to enhance the education system from kindergarten to higher education, Secretary for Education Michael Suen says.

Attending the International Education Roundtable in Singapore today Mr Suen said Hong Kong is committed to nurturing all students to succeed in whole-person development and life-long learning.

"There is the need to continue to maintain high academic achievement and all-round student development through quality teaching, effective leadership and effective schools that are responsive to changes and contemporary needs," he said.

"Society's ever-rising expectations have added pressure on teachers' workload which calls for stronger support to the profession from parents, the Government and the wider community."

He said Hong Kong will enhance the teaching profession by attracting better graduates to become teachers, enhancing the quality and opportunities of teacher education, boosting teacher morale and enhancing their social status to retain them in the profession.

(Source: http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/atschool/090707/html/090707en02004.htm)

June 24, 2009

Education

HKIEd to get more degree places

An additional 120 first-year-first-degree and 30 research postgraduate places will be provided to the University Grants Committee for allocation to the Institute of Education within the 2009-12 triennium.

Announcing the decision today, Secretary for Education Michael Suen said support will be given to the institute to help it develop into a multi-disciplinary institution and build its research capacity.

"This development will bring much improvement to teacher education in Hong Kong and will be constructive to fulfilling the institute's aspiration to be granted university title," he said.

The additional student numbers will enable the institute to develop undergraduate programmes in three disciplines complementary to education, and strengthen its research capability.

New programmes

The institute plans to launch new undergraduate programmes in language and literature, culture and creative art, and humanities and social sciences.

Committee chairman Laura Cha welcomed the move saying the committee has already written to the institute inviting it to make detailed submissions setting out the details of and justifications for the proposed new disciplines and the timeframe of their plans.

The committee also asked the institute to explain how it will work to enrich its research environment in preparation for its future offering of high-quality research postgraduate programmes.

"Upon receipt of the submissions, the committee will carefully consider them and seek expert advice from international educationists where appropriate to decide when and how to allocate the additional student places to the institute."

(Source: http://www.news.gov.hk/en/category/atschool/090624/html/090624en02004.htm)

Industry to build on 'soft power' of the HK brand

Donald Tsang

Monday, June 22, 2009

The financial tsunami and global recession continue to impact heavily on economies around the world. The impact extends beyond financial markets, the business environment, asset prices and employment opportunities. More profoundly, it is changing the relationship between government, business and the market.

As an externally oriented financial and commercial center, Hong Kong is especially vulnerable to changes in the external economic environment. But, as we have seen in the past, Hong Kong has an uncanny ability to turn crisis into opportunity. The same will happen again in the aftermath of this current crisis.

After the Asian financial turmoil in 1997, many predicted the end of emerging markets. But the opposite happened - emerging markets revived and reached new heights. Hong Kong also harnessed that opportunity to strengthen our financial system. Now, a decade later, the foundations of our financial market remain strong in the face of a global crisis. So when this current situation stabilizes, Hong Kong must take some bold steps forward to embrace new opportunities. That is why last year I established the Task Force on Economic Challenges.

Apart from announcing a number of major measures to stabilize the financial system, support enterprises and preserve employment, the TFEC also solicited views and ideas from various sectors of the community to identify new opportunities for economic development. The TFEC's recommendations will be released today.

In 2007, I laid out my five-year blueprint for Hong Kong, which included the concept of "Progressive Development." Implementing this concept, in particular the provision of new, hard infrastructure, will lay a solid foundation for our long- term economic development and enhance our competitiveness. On the "software" front, we aim to provide a favorable environment for Hong Kong to further develop as a knowledge-based economy.

Every developed economy is racing toward a knowledge-based economy. While we all share this goal, the difficult part is how to achieve it. Over these past few months, the TFEC has studied six priority industries that are new engines for economic growth in a knowledge- based economy.

They are: educational services; medical services; testing and certification; innovation and technology; cultural and creative industries; and, environmental industries. These six industries will complement our four pillar industries of financial services, producer and professional services, trading and logistics, and tourism. Combined, they will form an even more solid foundation for future economic growth.

Talent is the key to success in a knowledge-based economy. Knowledge combined with innovation brings the huge economic benefits of high value- added and low energy consumption industries. So, we will strengthen our efforts to nurture local talent through education and research opportunities. At the same time, we will create an environment to attract talented people from around the globe.

Hong Kong is a vibrant world city with an eclectic mix of East and West. We embrace both traditional and modern values. Much work still needs to be done to improve air quality, enhance greening and foster a more diverse cultural life. By doing this, we will not only attract more world-class professionals to live and work here, our citizens will also benefit and take even greater pride in Hong Kong, our home.

Another vital element for building a knowledge-based economy is the market. Being a small economy, we adopt a strategy of leveraging our strengths in the mainland, particularly the Pearl River Delta region, and reaching out to Asia and the rest of the world.

The SAR government will play an important role in exploring new markets. From integrating with the PRD to negotiating better access to the mainland market under CEPA, the government needs to play a leading role. We will work hand in hand with industries to explore new markets and opportunities.

Of all the conditions needed to develop into a knowledge-based economy, the most significant is "soft power." Hong Kong has established a "brand" that is synonymous with integrity, professionalism, an independent and mature judicial system, a free and clean society, and an efficient and free flow of information. The six priority industries proposed by the TFEC are all built on the "soft power" of the Hong Kong brand and that is why their development should yield good results.

Developing a knowledge-based economy has become an irreversible trend. Our success in harnessing this trend depends on the policy environment we provide to nurture knowledge-based industries. The TFEC recommendations will provide an important catalyst for this to happen. I am sure that once the financial crisis recedes, Hong Kong will once again create a new niche for itself that will create even greater success.

(Source: http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp? pp_cat=20&art_id=83752&sid)