Hong Kong schools ready for boycotts as pupils sit revamped tests
Member of committee reviewing controversial exam reveals she quit after her suggestions to solve the problem of overdrilling were ignored
The first pupils sat rebranded tests on Thursday, with schools prepared for anyone boycotting the exams.
On the same day, it emerged that a member of a committee tasked with reviewing the controversial assessments of Primary Three pupils had quit three months ago, citing health reasons and complaints that her ideas were ignored.
In a random selection from the 500 schools scheduled to take part in the Basic Competency Assessment (BCA), 24 pupils from each school were selected for the English speaking assessment, 24 for the Chinese speaking assessment and 30 for the Chinese audiovisual assessment.
More tests will be held on Friday.
The BCA replaces the Territory-wide System Assessment, which was designed to enhance learning and teaching but became synonymous with the city’s high-pressure drilling methods. Some educators claimed the test was used as a basis to determine school closures, but the Education Bureau repeatedly denied such claims.