I refer to the letters headlined 'Flawed system' and 'Surprised' (Sunday Morning Post, January 5 and February 16).
We note that under the British system (adopted by English Schools Foundation schools in Hong Kong), the age of entry to Grade 1 (equivalent to our Primary 1) is five, with 13 grades to be completed before entry to university education, which normally lasts three years.
Hence, a UK student normally graduates from university at the age of 21.
On the other hand, under the US education structure, the age of entry to Grade 1 (also equivalent to our Primary 1) is six, with 12 grades to be completed before entry to university education, normally lasting a period of four years.
Hence, a US student normally graduates from university at the age of 22, the same as Hong Kong students. In fact, the duration for completing primary to university education in Britain and the US is the same as that in Hong Kong - 16 years.
In Hong Kong, although the normal age for entry into Primary 1 is six, children reaching the minimum age of five years and eight months by September 1 of the year of admission are also allowed in.