STUDENTS completing fewer than two-thirds of the subjects or credits of an overseas distance learning degree course will not be recognised by the Hongkong Government, it has recently been revealed.
The news has sparked fears among those taking such courses. Distance learning is popular and is a main source of teacher supply in Hongkong.
Fifty students who are expected to graduate this summer from a Bachelor of Education programme jointly offered by Deakin University in Australia and the Chinese University's Department of Extramural Studies will be among those affected.
They were allowed exemption for some units and admitted to the final year of the four-year course due to their three-year teaching training qualifications.
The students, who did not know of such a ruling when they joined the programme, are planning to protest and to ask that the ''unreasonable rule'' be dropped.
According to the Civil Service Branch, overseas qualifications gained off-campus are recognised by the Government for appointment purposes subject to a review of the policy last December.
However, it was stated in a letter by the branch in February to a representative of Deakin University that ''for a three-year degree course, the candidate must have completed at least two-thirds of the subjects or credits required by the course''.