NEW PROGRAMME DESIGNED TO ASSIST UNDERACHIEVERS IMPROVE SKILLS AND ENHANCE

A diploma course giving HKCEE underachievers an option of attaining the equivalent of five passes is being introduced by the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE).

'Given the motivation and sufficient time, all human beings can be successful in anything,' Michael Pompfret, principal of IVE's Morrison Hill institute, said.

The foundation diploma is a one-year full-time programme which provides further study opportunities for students who have not done well in the HKCEE. The entry requirements are three Grade E passes.

'Last year there were more than 16,000 students who got three passes in the HKCEE. It is doubtful whether repeating Form Five is good for them. At the same time they should not be denied the chance to improve their foundation skills. We want to help these students who are caught in between,' Mr Pompfret said.

To cope with the demand, the IVE is allocating 2,000 places in seven campuses. This accounts for 25 per cent of all diploma courses available. Applicants will be asked to indicate their preferences in either the business or technical stream. Mr Pompfret said the two objectives of the course were to improve generic skills such as interpersonal communication and to enhance the employability of students.

This would be achieved by providing education on IT skills and personal attributes, with an emphasis on team work, he said. Students will have to take vocational English, information and technology, word processing and mathematics as the core subjects. For the rest of the course, the two streams will focus on general business skills and technological know-how respectively.

'Being in a specialist stream, however, doesn't preclude students from changing their minds. The specialist stream is designed to give them an extra dimension for getting a job,' Mr Pompfret said.