1. SOSC 103D Social Inequality in HK Lecture 23: Education Expansion in Hong Kong

2. L23: 02.05.072 Education Education and Equality of Opportunities Macro: Maintain a fair and open system Micro: Obtain social mobility within the system Education policies and Modes of mobility  Sponsored mode (England)  Contest mode (American)

3. L23: 02.05.073 2 modes of mobility Product of social (folk) norms The accepted mode of upward mobility shapes the school system Determine the development of education policies Affect social ethos and norms Legitimate the social control Affect children and parents’ ethos and decisions Individuals’ strategies within the school system Inequalities in both of the school systems

4. L23: 02.05.074 Educational Expansion Major expansion after WWII Main Aim: Increase educational opportunities for all Provide equal footing of competition Results of the expansion: From Elite-oriented system to Mass-oriented system

5. L23: 02.05.075 How about Hong Kong? 2 stages of education expansion: 1. During the 1970s expansion of the lower level of education introduction of compulsory education 1971: 6 years of primary education 1978: additional 3 years of secondary education

6. L23: 02.05.076 1966 Star Ferry Riot 5 cents fare increase Grievance under the colonial rules Empowered by the revolutions (e.g. PRC) A group of unruly youth A long running fear of youth

7. L23: 02.05.077 A long running fear of youth (cont’) Reservoir of youth sentiments (1966 report): Reality: Post-war population composition Recommendation: channel the energy prevent delinquency invest in grammar schools and vocational trainings

8. L23: 02.05.078 Education expansion in HK (con ’ t) 2. During the 1980s and 1990s: expansion of tertiary education increase the number of universities increase the number of tertiary institutes proportion of students in tertiary education (3% ~ 2,000  20%) Various financial assistance scheme for students in higher education

9. L23: 02.05.079 Social context Pre-handover period: Brain-drain (emigration) Rose garden project Post-handover period: Economic downturn Increased (youth unemployment rate)

10. L23: 02.05.0710 Results of education expansion Credential society (Randall Collins, 1979) Distortion of education Examination and degree-oriented Inflation of credential Imbalance in demand and supply Waste of resources Continuous inflation

11. L23: 02.05.0711 Results of education expansion (cont ’ ) Composition of University Students in 1981 and 2001 (David Post, 2003 p.558) Persistent inequality

12. L23: 02.05.0712 Readings: David Post (2003) “Post-Secondary Education in Hong Kong,” in Asian Survey, 43(6): 989-1011