Headmaster defends school's reputation
I write this letter to point out the erroneous comments by Serge Berthier on NT Heung Yee Kuk Southern District Secondary School (Education Post, February 11). As the owner and headmaster of Lantau Island International School, Mr Berthier by his title should be a professional educator. However, I am confused by his distorted remarks made about New Territories Heung Yee Kuk Southern District Secondary School and I believe that he may either have a serious misunderstanding of our school or a misinterpretation of education in Hong Kong, which is ever changing.
First of all, SDSS is a government-run school and has been providing secondary education of outstanding quality with a list of graduates who are now doctors, engineers, teachers, artists, sports stars and other professionals. They were taught by many of the teachers who are still teaching in the school. Despite the recent changes in education and in the Mui Wo district, our teachers have undergone great reforms in teaching objectives, strategies and methods, which have led to an extraordinary increase in the school's added value in recent years.
Some information may help to clarify Mr Berthier's comments.
We do have high-fliers in public examinations and over the past two years more than half of our Form Seven graduates were able to secure a place in tertiary education institutes.
Our school has been providing education for local children as well as children from the urban area in accordance with the vision and mission of the Education and Manpower Bureau, which never discriminates against students with differing financial backgrounds or those traditionally classified as low achievers. All of them have talent in one way or another and our teachers are determined to help them develop. I should say that 'to save the school' is not our prime objective but rather the continuing provision of a fair chance in education for local kids, both Chinese and non-Chinese speaking.
