(SCMP, June 13, 2003)
A FOUR-YEAR UNIVERSITY system should be fast-tracked in Hong Kong, education chiefs agreed yesterday. The government said funding would be available to speed up its introduction.
Secretary for Education and Manpower Arthur Li Kwok- cheung said the government and heads of the eight universities agreed on a 'three-three-four' model, comprising six years of schooling at junior and senior secondary levels, plus four years at university. They also agreed the four-year system should be introduced sooner than 2013 - the date proposed by the Education Commission. Some universities have said they could adopt the system by 2007.
Professor Li said: 'In terms of educational value, it is a superior system. It is a must for Hong Kong.'
The commission has proposed such a system be implemented only after reforms to the senior secondary curriculum and examinations. It said the government should decide by 2007 the timetable for implementing those reforms.
But Professor Li said that would take too long. At a meeting with university presidents and vice-chancellors yesterday, he suggested they come up with plans for early introduction of the new system.
He said one option was to expand the Early Admission Scheme introduced last year, under which Form Six students with outstanding results in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination can go straight into university without sitting the A-Level examinations required of students at Form Seven. The scheme has been adopted by three institutions - the University of Hong Kong, Chinese University and the University of Science and Technology.
About 400 students have been accepted. Professor Li has asked universities to consider whether they want to take in more Form Six students through that scheme.
Institutions can set their own intake quotas and requirements for HKCEE grades. 'Different institutions will have different requirements. Now those admitted are expected to have six As in the HKCEE examination. Institutions may want to lower that to four As or less,' Professor Li said.
'Each institution's circum stances are also different, so some may want to move faster than others. It's up to universities to tell us.'
Discussions will be held with schools to hear their views on expanding the scheme and the timetable for implementing a full four-year system.
Professor Li pledged that the government would provide funding for the additional intake. 'The students will not be in their fourth year for a few years. The economy may have improved by then,' he said.
But he stood by the government's plan to cut funding for the sector by more than 10 per cent from next year.
'The budget cuts are a chance for vice-chancellors to reflect on their strategic position and see areas where they can make savings,' he said.
Paul Chu Ching-wu, president of the University of Science and Technology, said extra funding was needed. 'I hope the government will be sympathetic. There will be an extra amount of work for us to do.'
Discussion points
- Should the government intervene in the
- Do you support the '3-3-4' education model? Why?
- If fast-tracking the four-year university system means the expansion of the Early Admission Scheme, would you agree on slower tertiary education reforms? Why?
E-mail: yp@scmp.com
Vocabulary
to fast-track (v)
to accelerate the progress of something. 'Fast track', as a noun, means the faster route to achieving a particular result
superior (adj)
greater in merit. When we say something is superior to the other, this means the former is better than the latter. Pay attention to the preposition that follows. It should be 'superior to', not 'superior than'.
to go straight (v)
to go somewhere at once; a direct course
to adopt (v)
to take up and practise as one's own. Many students confuse it with 'to adapt'. Remember, 'to adapt' means to change in order to meet new needs. 'To adopt' suggests taking something over as it is
to stand by (someone)
to continue to support someone in a difficult situation
sympathetic (adj)
showing understanding. 'Thoughtful' and 'understanding' are its synonyms. Do not confuse it with another adjective 'empathetic'. 'Empathetic' refers to one's ability to share another person's feelings