Yau explained the current education system did not fully cater to students who were less academically inclined yet had potential in subject areas and skills considered more hands-on.

“There are pupils who want to go to university, but do not want to be assessed just by the [Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) examination].”

As such, the vocational baccalaureate programme was intended to cater to those who are more hands-on and prefer more project-based assessment, Yau said.

Unlike the diploma of vocational education, which the council now offers to those who have completed Secondary Three, graduates of the vocational baccalaureate can advance to the council’s Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, also known as THEi, which offers vocationally-oriented bachelor’s degree programmes.

At present, only those with DSE qualification, or its equivalents, are recognised by THEi. Those with a diploma of vocational education must first graduate from a higher diploma programme, which is an admission qualification to enter the third year of four-year degree programmes.

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The pilot scheme is to feature a broad-based curriculum covering basic vocational modules in engineering or design; a Business and Technology Education Council extended diploma, a vocational qualification taken in England, Wales or Northern Ireland that is equivalent to a pass in three GCE A-level subjects; an International General Certificate of Secondary Education for English, Chinese and Mathematics, and whole-person development modules.

Details are yet to be confirmed whether the programme is to be funded by the government.

Yau said she found it highly unusual that most local pupils had to follow the purely academic route despite more than half not gaining admission to university.

Watch: Hong Kong pupils receive their DSE results

The DSE is notorious for inducing high stress among Form Six pupils as it is the main pathway for them to enter university. Such a route is largely viewed as key to success in Hong Kong society.

This year, about 51,008 day-school candidates sat for the DSE, but only 20,801 obtained level 3 or above in both Chinese and English languages, level 2 or above in mathematics and liberal studies, and level 2 or above for one elective – the minimum requirements to enter local universities.

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Moreover, there are only about 15,000 first-year government-funded undergraduate seats available for these secondary school graduates at the city’s eight public universities. Those who do not make the cut for public universities can enrol in self-financing institutions.

While the diploma of vocational education allows Secondary Three graduates who do not want to continue with the academic route to switch to skills training, the executive director noted there was a low uptake of only less than 5 per cent.

Veteran educator Tai Hay-lap said the vocational baccalaureate programme would be good for young people as they would have more options in choosing between vocational and academic education. But he believed it was important to ensure that the available pathways were smooth.

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Tai added that the programme could affect the education ecosystem, especially if it were funded by the government. Hong Kong is facing a declining student population and different education sectors are keen to seek more funding. Hence the need to work closely with the government has grown acute.

Should the programme not receive government funding, vocational training could prove expensive and affect enrolment figures, Tai said. Pupils at public schools are now educated at no cost.