IB or DSE? Pros and cons of Hong Kong secondary school curriculums explained
The IB programme is rapidly gaining ground in Hong Kong, but there is no one study option that's right for everyone
Unless enrolled in a government school or the rare international school that offers the British A-level curriculum, Hong Kong students hoping to study abroad may soon have little choice but to take the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programme.
Both curriculums prepare students for university entry. However, the IB programme has expanded from the international school sector, which it has long dominated, to the English Schools Foundation (ESF) network. After providing the British curriculum for more than 40 years, ESF began switching over in 2007. Now all its five secondary schools and two colleges offer the IB Diploma instead of A-levels.
Direct subsidy scheme schools (semi-private institutions that are given greater autonomy) have also begun to embrace the IB system. Five of the city's 62 direct subsidy schools now offer the IB Diploma and the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE). More will probably follow suit if the Woo brothers' experience is any indication.
Justin Woo, who is training to become a pilot at an aeronautical university in Florida, has been through both systems. After two years at a direct subsidy school, he got fed up with the local exam curriculum and switched to study IB Diploma at South Island School in 2012.
Liberal Studies, a compulsory subject for DSE, was a particular bugbear.
"There was a lot of regurgitation and teachers delivered lessons in a big rush because there were simply too many topics to cover. I soon lost interest, as this approach does not help develop critical thinking," says Justin, 19.
"After switching to IB, I felt happier as it involved fewer tests and less repetitive homework. I took psychology, English literature, physics and history for IB. The coursework requirement was flexible enough for me to work to my interests and develop new perspectives on knowledge.