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    The Secretary for Education and Manpower, Professor Arthur K C Li, said today (August 10)  he was pleased with the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE) results this year.

    Professor Li attributed the good performance to the concerted effort by students, teachers and principals.

    During his visit to Methodist Church HK Wesley College in Chai Wan this morning (August 10), Professor Li noted that the Chinese-medium (CMI) school had seen across-the-board enhancement in its performance in HKCEE, including in English Language.

    This year, the proportion of all CMI students obtaining five or more subject passes (including Chinese Language and English Language) has increased by 5.6% as compared with that in 2002, the year when the last student cohort, educated before the implementation of the Medium of Instruction (MOI) Guidance, sat for the examination.

    On CMI students' performance in English, Professor Li said that the proportion of students obtaining a pass in English Language (Syllabus B) and a credit in English Language (Syllabus A) had increased remarkably.

    He also revealed that of the some 200 schools switching from English-medium to CMI in 1998, more and more had exceeded their attainments in 2002, up from 40 schools in 2003, 80 in 2004 to 120 in 2005.

    In addition, 75% (or 150 schools) had their pass rates in English Language (Syllabus B) or credit rates in English Language (Syllabus A) higher than those of 2004.

     "This reflects that the overall English language standard of students in CMI schools is on a steady rise and we can also re-affirm that mother-tongue teaching indeed can enhance our students' acquisition of subject knowledge," Professor Li remarked.

Ends/Wednesday, August 10, 2005

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