The emphasis on rote-learning and examinations has long been criticised for stifling students' ability to think critically and creatively. The much-maligned spoon-feeding education system is in for some revolutionary changes this September that will certainly shake up the whole sector.
One of the changes will see the secondary curriculum shrink from seven to six years in duration. The new senior secondary curriculum will have new subject combinations that are much more flexible. At present, the senior secondary curriculum prepares students for two public exams - Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) and Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKAL).
While HKCEE students have to study six to eight subjects, four to five subjects are needed for HKAL. Under the new academic system, the two public exams will be combined into the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education, the qualification of which will enable students to apply for local and overseas universities.
Starting this September, Form Four or senior secondary Year One students will have to study four compulsory subjects including Chinese, English, mathematics and liberal studies. They will also have to choose two to three electives from a wide range of disciplines, such as history, accounting and information technology.
The introduction of liberal studies and elective subjects will remove the rigid segregation of senior secondary students into three streams - arts, science or commerce. The 20 elective subjects can be roughly divided into five categories: personal, social and humanities (which involves history, economics, ethics and religion), science (chemistry, biology and integrated science), technology (information technology and accounting), arts (visual arts and music) and physical education.
Students can choose an applied learning subject or a foreign language, such as French, as one of their elective subjects. Practical in nature and intended to gear students towards their future employment, the applied learning subjects can be divided into six areas - creative studies, services, applied science, engineering and production, media and communication, and business management and law.