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Following is the speech (translation) by the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Institute of Education Jockey Club Primary School today (February 18):
Mr Arculli, Dr Leung, Dr Au, ladies and gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to join you all here today to celebrate the official opening of the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) Jockey Club Primary School.
The HKIEd Jockey Club Primary School was established in September 2002. With a generous donation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the environmentally friendly school buildings, set in green surroundings with spacious courtyards, won the Hong Kong Institute of Architects Medal of the Year 2002. The project architects adopted a courtyard composition and followed the existing topography by creating a series of roof terraces, maximising space for student activities. It is indeed a beautiful campus offering a perfect learning environment.
The school aims to establish itself as a vibrant, innovative institution. Adopting a student-oriented philosophy and practising teaching models developed through international research, the school strives to enable every student to enjoy learning, be a good communicator, be courageous in accepting responsibilities, and be creative and innovative. We look forward to seeing it realise this vision of providing a caring and resourceful learning environment, where every student is given the opportunity to become a success.
As I mentioned in the Policy Address, education reforms carried out in primary and secondary schools over the past few years have been on the right track. Students' interest in learning has increased, curricula have become more varied and there is now more scope for developing students' individual potential. Many schools have been actively promoting moral and civic education, encouraging extensive reading, and practising varied modes of assessment to boost the effectiveness of teaching and learning. In the Programme for International Student Assessment launched by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Hong Kong students performed brilliantly in the 15-year-old group, ranking first in mathematics, third in science, and sixth in reading among all participating countries.
The Government has been investing substantial resources in quality education. In the school year 2003/04, 66% of primary school students are able to study in whole-day schools. As 27 more schools will turn whole-day by 2004/05, the number of places will increase to 72%. Moreover, we will offer sufficient subsidised Secondary Four and training places to all Secondary Three students in publicly funded schools who have the ability and wish to continue their studies. Over the years, parents and students have been offered alternate routes and a wider choice of schools with particular features to fit their varied needs, including the through-train mode, direct subsidy schools, senior secondary schools and Project Yi Jin.
On the use of IT to enhance effectiveness in teaching and learning, all public sector schools have been installed with internet facilities, with each primary school equipped with 78 personal computers and each secondary school with 225 on average. All serving teachers have received elementary training on the use of IT in their teaching. We have established the Information Technology Educational Resource Centre and the Hong Kong Education City to provide teachers with useful courses and teaching resources to promote students' learning through the use of IT.
Meanwhile, we are striving to enhance our teachers' quality and professionalism. Since 1997, the percentage of primary graduate teachers has risen from the relatively low level of 30% to 59%, and that of secondary schools from 83% to 89%. As for school principals, in the 2000/01 and 2001/02 school years all newly appointed principals of public sector schools had to complete a designated development programme. Their 1,000 or so serving counterparts must undertake at least 150 hours of continuing professional development training every three years with effect from the 2002/03 school year.
Education is an investment in human capital, aimed at ensuring the balanced development of our children in moral, intellectual, physical, civic and aesthetic aspects. It has been a long-established policy objective of the SAR Government to equip our younger generation through quality education for the challenges of the knowledge economy, and to create a culture of lifelong learning.
Therefore, despite the fiscal restraints, the Government remains steadfast in its commitment to education, especially investment and reform in primary and secondary schools. Apart from the initiatives I mentioned, we are improving language education and the language proficiency of our people, that is, bi-literate in written Chinese and English and tri-lingual in Cantonese, Putonghua and spoken English through a package of measures. We have started introducing native-English speaking teachers to improve English teaching at school. By phases, we are providing primary schools with curriculum experts to formulate curriculum development plans and strategies. At the senior secondary level, we are promoting multi-disciplinary curricula and have run 12 career-oriented units on a trial basis. The success of these measures relies on the co-operation of teachers, schools and school sponsors, the support of parents and the recognition of the community.
Parents, teachers, principals and school sponsors have all worked hard to bring in our education reforms since they were launched in October 2000. Overall, this has begun to produce encouraging results. I understand that the support of parents, teachers, principals and school sponsors is crucial to the success of education reform. And the changes and pressure it has caused them has not gone unnoticed. Our direction is very clear. What we need now is more time and more effort for the reform to bear more fruit.
Participation of the community at large in education is indeed very important. Take this primary school as an example. It was established with a donation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the advice of the Hong Kong Institute of Education and the support of all parties concerned. It represents a new mode of "institute-school partnership" in school operation. From specialising in training teachers to opening its own school, this is a historic step for the HKIEd. The institute can share the benefits of its research with the school, and in return the school can serve as a research base for the institute.
On this auspicious occasion, I hope that as well as quality education for its pupils, the school will provide new ideas on education reform for all schools to share, so that together we can bring up a new generation of capable, innovative and committed young adults.
Lastly, I wish you good health and happiness in the New Year, and to our young friends, a fruitful school life. Thank you.
End/Wednesday, February 18, 2004
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