Source:
https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3017777/hong-kong-engineer-who-could-not-make-it-university-after Education
Hong Kong engineer who could not make it to university after public exam shares his success story with students waiting for DSE results
- Kyle Yip Wang-kui could not secure a seat in university after public exam because of poor marks, but managed to succeed with the help of vocational education
- Now 37, he has been working with CLP Power for 14 years
Electrical engineer Kyle Yip Wang-kui at CLP Power office in Sham Shui Po. Photo: Xiaomei Chen
Kyle Yip Wang-kui found his route to university barred 17 years ago when he failed to get good marks on a public exam, but that was not the end of the road for him.
“University is not the only way out. Only through trying various routes, can you find the most suitable one for yourself,” Yip said, as he gave advice to students waiting for their Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education examination (DSE) results last Wednesday.
Yip recalled how he faced the crossroads of life when he got poor scores in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination – the former public university entrance exam – in 2002. The upper secondary curriculum was later reformed and the exam renamed as DSE.
“I was at a loss at first. Just like my peers, I wanted to get into university after graduation. But it was not the end of the world. There were many other chances,” he said.
He studied electrical engineering at the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education, which offers career-oriented programmes to postsecondary students.
Four months after finishing a higher diploma in electrical engineering, he joined CLP Power for a two-year traineeship. That marked a beginning in his life and he has been working with the company for 14 years now.
During that time, he earned a bachelor’s degree in law and a master’s in electrical engineering as well.
In 2010, he was promoted to senior technician at CLP Power after passing various internal tests.
Now 37, Yip said he was grateful he “opened a window when a door was shut”, referring to the choice he made after the result in the university entrance exam.
“I felt a sense of achievement in pursuing further studies in more profession-oriented curriculum.”
“Compared with studying various subjects at the same time in secondary schools, I chose to focus on a particular area of my interest,” he said.
Some 56,305 students sat for DSE this year, and there are around 15,000 places in the eight public universities each year. The minimum score to enter any degree programme is 12.
The total score requires a minimum of level 3 for Chinese and English and level 2 for mathematics and liberal studies.