Students in Forms Four and Five should study no more than seven subjects to allow more time for other activities and community service, an education reformist has suggested. At least one arts and one science subject should be among the seven, with Chinese, English and mathematics remaining compulsory, said Professor Chung Yue-ping, chairman of the Education Commission's committee on post-compulsory education. He said students concentrating on arts should take integrated science and those taking science should study humanities. That would leave three other subjects to be chosen freely. Another option suggested by Professor Chung, dean of the faculty of education at Chinese University, was for students to study both integrated science and humanities and to choose their two other subjects. 'We're talking about all-round and balanced development,' he said. 'If they take more than seven subjects, how can they take up more extra-curricular activities or community services?' The chairman of the Subsidised Secondary Schools Council, Stephen Hui Chin-yim, said: 'I think seven subjects is optimum and it's a good idea to spare more time for other activities. 'But students should be allowed to choose more subjects to challenge their abilities if they want to.' It is understood individual outstanding students would take up to 10 subjects so as to excel in the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination. The Education Commission is soliciting views from the public on overall education reform until December 15.