IB doesn't suit everyone, new HKEAA exams director says

The International Baccalaureate diploma is not suitable for students of all abilities across a non-selective school system, the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority's newly-appointed exams director has said.

The school-leaving diploma was adopted last year by all secondary schools in the English Schools Foundation, which will admit any student who passes its English language test, and has been criticised by parents as too demanding for some students, with a heavier workload than A-levels and a lack of options.

The IB programme is part of a four-pathway ESF Diploma that also includes a vocationally-oriented Advanced Diploma in which students at different schools are offered a range or mix of vocational A-levels, BTech diplomas and IB certificates. Other pathways are under development.

Dr George Pook, the International Baccalaureate Organisation's assessment director, who was appointed HKEAA deputy general secretary and director of public examinations this week, said: 'We accept that the full IB programme is not suitable for all students and the IB is working to provide alternative programmes for a wider range of students.

'In our view, it is appropriate for students of average ability and above but not for the full ability range. It is demanding but more in relation to self organisation, levels of commitment to study and self motivation.'

Dr Pook said the ESF seemed to be 'moving in the right direction' by developing vocationally-oriented alternative programmes and the IBO was taking a similar approach. It had devised an IB career-related certificate that was being piloted in more than 10 international schools and was likely to be offered to all schools from 2011 or 2012.