The findings of a survey on Hong Kong's secondary school system reveal that the general public expects students to acquire good work habits and do well academically.
By developing positive habits, students should become more responsible, independent and obedient, respondents believed. They also said students should work particularly hard to improve their language proficiency.
The Effectiveness of the Hong Kong Secondary School System survey was conducted over five years by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CU) and the findings were released at a CU symposium.
The study was aimed at assessing how well the territory's secondary school system worked.
Its primary objectives were: to identify the goals expected of the Hong Kong secondary school system; to measure the capability of the system in attaining these goals; to study the relationships between learning outcomes and crucial aspects of schooling; and to identify those schools and educational practices within the system which can affect positive learning outcomes.
The findings indicated that Hong Kong's secondary schools varied widely in their ability to enhance students' academic achievements.
Addressing the survey's findings, the research team recommended the secondary school system be restructured to make it more accommodating and supportive of low-ability students.
