THE announcement yesterday that controversial changes to the entry standards for teacher training colleges will come into effect from September has met a storm of protest from teachers and students.
A protest letter was sent immediately to Governor Mr Chris Patten by the Hongkong Professional Teachers' Union.
Last night student and union representatives were meeting to discuss how to fight the decision, with students talking about staging a sit-in.
The union's vice-president, Mr Au Pak-kuen, said they feared the general standard of the teaching profession would fall.
In announcing the two revised entry requirements, the Education Department's assistant director (further education), Mr Kwan Ting-fai, said the more flexible criteria was introduced to make the system fairer.
At present, to meet the basic requirements for admission, applicants must have obtained in one sitting of the Hongkong Certificate of Education Examination grade E or above in six different subjects.
Under the changes, students will still qualify if they reach the standard in two sittings, with at least four subjects in one sitting.