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Letters | Why Hong Kong universities mustn’t lower language requirements for admission
Readers discuss the need to maintain English standards at the university level, measures to prevent student suicide, and doing away with traditional tests at primary school
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I refer to the report, “Language skills shouldn’t be compulsory for university admissions in Hong Kong: principals” (September 19). Removing Chinese and English language requirements for university admission may have adverse impacts on youngsters.
In recent years, competition for subsidised university places seems to have become less fierce. However, I have observed that there are more students struggling to speak English in complete sentences and write error-free complex clauses, not to mention their limited vocabulary and weak listening skills. A 2023 survey pointed to a drop in English proficiency among Hongkongers aged 18 to 20.
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Whether in the creative industry or more traditional sectors, employers across Asia prefer candidates with good language skills. For Hong Kong to consider itself an international and cosmopolitan city, it should have many residents who are comfortable speaking English.
If universities remove the language requirements for admission, students would have a much harder time fitting into the English-medium university environment which has been our city’s pride for years. Should we give up this edge to suit students’ needs?
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In some ways, those who sit the Diploma of Secondary Examination have less to cover than before. For instance, the Chinese listening and integrated skills paper has been scrapped and for the Chinese history elective, students have a choice of writing just one paper instead of two.
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