VI. Education

Guiding Principle

150.         Education accounts for about one-fifth of total government expenditure, the highest among all policy areas. Since reunification, the Government has introduced many education reform initiatives, leading to a notable enhancement of education in Hong Kong in terms of both quality and quantity. The New Senior Secondary academic structure has begun to bear fruit and gained international recognition. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service of the United Kingdom has confirmed that the tariff points awarded for the highest level of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination are higher than those awarded for the highest grade in the General Certificate of Education A Level or International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Also, Hong Kong Primary Four students ranked first in reading literacy in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study 2011. Hong Kong also ranked third in a recent global study by the Pearson Group on education systems. With greater access to senior secondary and post-secondary education, we expect that in two years, over one-third of the relevant age cohort will have the opportunity to pursue degree-level education. Taking sub-degree places into account, nearly 70% of young people will have access to post-secondary education. There have also been continuous improvements to our student financial assistance schemes to ensure that no student is deprived of education for lack of financial means.

151.         I believe it is time to consolidate our education policies, and avoid drastic changes to give stakeholders some respite. Our future priority will be to ensure the quality of our education by further improving relevant measures in accordance with existing policies.

Contents | Next