1. Academic Structure for SSE
26 September 2003

2. Chronological Development
29/4: Meeting of the HK Scholar Society with secondary school heads on 4-year U education and “5+1”
May: Release of “Review of the Academic Structure for Senior Secondary Education” by EC
14/6: Forum on EC Progress Report

3. Chronological Development
28/6: Press report on U submissions on Expanded EAS, and HKSSSC’s objection
2/7: EMB meeting with schools councils on Expanded EAS and “5+1”
5/7: Open forum by the HK Scholars Society on “5+1”
14/7: EMB meeting with secondary schools and schools council on Expanded EAS

4. Chronological Development
17/7: HKSSSC Executive Committee and Task Group on Curriculum and Assessment meeting on Expanded EAS and “5+1”
19/7: Outcomes of discussion of 17/7 disseminated to members and press meeting – objections to both schemes; paper submitted to EMB and EC

5. Chronological Development
14 and 15/8: Tripartite meeting between EMB, universities and schools councils on “5+1” and Expanded EAS (including also HK Scholar Society, Education Convergence and HK Federation of Education Workers on 14/8)
15/8: after the meeting, 6 schools councils form a joint working group

6. Chronological Development
5/9: EMB initiated a meeting with the 6 school councils
19/9: meeting of 12 schools councils and form the Joint Working Group

7. HKSSSC’s Position
Expanded EAS (as it is now practiced and lower down the requirement to 4As) – oppose this scheme for the reasons:
HK becomes a high stake selection exam
Adverse effect on student learning in S4-5
Adverse effect on student learning in S6-7

8. HKSSSC’s Position “5+1” – oppose this scheme for reasons:
If based on HKCEE, same disadvantages as in Expanded EAS
Curriculum – duration of 8-10 months?
If a 2nd assessment in S.6 – i) 2 public exam within 1 year; or ii) school-based – need a consensus among all stakeholders
“5+1” to “3+3” – 2 big changes within a few years!

9. HKSSSC’s Position
If implementation of “3+3” is the policy, we should concentrate all effort and energy to work for a smooth and implementation without having to go through any other modes of transition which is short-lived and brings detrimental impact on student learning.

10. HKSSSC’s Role
To participate by giving the best professional and pragmatic advice
Bear in mind the interests of all students, and those who have to exit to work after secondary education
Bear in mind all issues pertaining to staff – staff development and training, redeployment and redundancy

11. Timeline
No timeline can be set – the Council is in no position to give the timeline
Until concrete plans are worked out, questions being answered, pre-conditions being met, the Council cannot and will not put a date to the time of implementation

12. Means of Participation
Chairman as member of the Education Commission
Joint Working Group of the 12 Schools Councils
EMB’s Steering Committee, with members nominated from the Joint Working Group, representing and reporting to the JWG

13. Academic Structure: critical issues
Curriculum Design
curriculum for all subjects to be changed to SS1 – 3 level
contents of some subjects need to be updated

14. Curriculum Liberal Studies to be taken by all students
More aggressive diversification of curriculum to cater for diverse interests and abilities of students – academic, practical, vocational, integrated

15. Public examinations and assessments
standards-referenced
school-based assessment across most if not all subjects
What are the University admission criteria?

16. Public examinations and assessments
Diversified mode of assessment and academic certification:
students’ learning portfolios
internal assessment reports
qualifications recognized by professional bodies
international recognized exams e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, GCE

17. Resources and Support
Funding – OEBG: School and class grant, Administration Grant, Curriculum Grant
Staffing - staffing establishment (calculation, redeployment) and redundancy issue
Training and professional development
Teaching and assessment materials

18. Construction of new schools and class
Restructuring (from 34% of S.6 to 95% of S.6)
What’s the plan to change the class structure from the various existing structures?

19. Critical Issues
Exit point at certain juncture of 6-year secondary education
Linking to post-secondary institutes and VTC and the qualifications framework

20. Consultation and Timeline
How and how frequent will we be consulted?
At what critical stage and on what critical issues must we be consulted?
How are teachers being involved?
When will the Curriculum and Assessment Guide, the textbook and the assessment exemplars be ready?

21. Critical Questions
What do I need to plan and prepare my school / staff for the change e.g. what information, training, resource allocation?
What is the lead time for the first SS1 to be able to start in my school?

22. Concurrent reviews and works:
SSPA and MOI (due by end of 2003/4)
TPF and CPD of teachers