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SCMP Reporter

Reading comprehension
Answer the following questions:
1 How do schools get rid of underperforming  students?
a. expel them
b.  ask them to  leave school voluntarily
c.  transfer them to another school
d.  ask for an order from the Education Bureau   
2 How many pupils have been officially expelled or asked to leave school voluntarily in the past five years, according to the bureau?
a. 2,000
b. 1,870
c. 1,906
d. 0 
3 Peter Chan was asked to withdraw his son from school three years ago after ...
a. he was caught stealing 
b. a packet of cigarettes was found in his bag
c. he  was involved in a fight at school
d. he was absent from school for a long time 
4 What prompts schools to get rid of underperforming  students?
a. they want to enhance their reputations to boost enrolments 
b. schools are over-registered  amid a growing pupil population 
c. parents of these students requested them to be transferred to other schools 
d. education groups' suggestion that doing this could help students' development 
Think about
1 What makes the 'voluntary withdrawal' not as voluntary as its name suggests? What would happen if the students refused?  
2 Is it  right for schools to expel problem pupils?
3  For what type of  misdemeanours should students be expelled?  
4  Peter Chan's son was asked to leave school after being caught with a packet of cigarettes. Is this  fair on him? 
5 Apart from asking him to quit, what could the school authorities have done?
6 Do you think getting rid of unruly students can help solve disciplinary problems in schools? 7 How do you think students are affected when they are persuaded to leave school?
Follow-up activities
1 Conduct research on Hong Kong's student population and the number of secondary schools over the past five years. Present the changes with a bar chart. You can find useful information on the Census and Statistics Department's website.
2 Divide your class into groups. Discuss what misdemeanours should call for expulsion and do a list. Compare your lists with that of other groups.
Answers: 
April 20
Reading comprehension: 1. d, 2. c, 3. a, 4. b 




education