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A DROP in the number of pupils passing the Use of English examination has raised concern over declining language standards.

  Results, released by the Hong Kong Examinations Authority yesterday, showed only 45.9 per cent of school candidates scored a grade D or above, 5.4 per cent down from last year.

  And the number who received grade E or above was only 80.2 per cent, 4.4 per cent down on last year.

  Pupils wanting to go to college or university require a minimum grade E, while Hong Kong University normally demands at least a grade D.

  Four years ago, 85.8 per cent of students achieved a grade E or above.

  The examinations authority attributed the decline to the increasing size of sixth forms as a result of expansion policies over the past few years.

  It said a number of established schools had only recently introduced sixth-form classes and many of the 1,100 former middle-school students had sat for the examination instead of the discontinued Higher Level Examination.

  The authority admitted the overall English language standard of the extra candidates was below that of the established groups, although the absolute number of students receiving grade E or above had increased.

  One of the biggest employers in Hong Kong, the Hongkong Bank, said it was worried that the education system did not meet the needs of the community.

  Training manager Ignatius Lee Tseun-yuen said: ''The result has re-confirmed a survey finding conducted by us recently.

  ''The survey conducted in major universities and bank offices found that people shared a common idea that the English levels of young employees were dropping,'' he said.

  Mr Lee said to tackle the problem, the bank and other major companies had reinforced in-house English training programmes.

  He said the apparent decline in English-language ability would increase problems for future executive staff.

  The bank is a participant in the vocational English programmes, recently introduced by the Government as part of efforts to improve English proficiency.



Exam results show English skills in decline