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A total of 78,701 students participated in this year's Secondary School Places Allocation (SSPA) and the results will be released tomorrow (July 11).
"Of the 63,413 students (about 81%) allocated to schools of their first three choices, 48,986 (about 62%) were allocated to their first choice. Both percentages have risen by one percentage point compared with those of last year," a spokesman for the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) said.
The spokesman believed that the continued attainment of a high satisfaction level might be attributable to the fact that both parents and schools had made good use of the discretionary places, more parents had employed good tactics in making suitable school choices for their children, and the increase in the number of Direct Subsidy Scheme and "through-train" schools for parents to secure places of their preferred secondary schools.
This year, 15,845 students (about 20.1%) were successful in obtaining discretionary places, a rise by more than one percentage point as compared with last year (18.8%).
All Primary Six students who have taken part in this year's SSPA should return to their schools tomorrow (July 11) to collect the Allocation Slip/Admission Slip.
The registration period will take place on Thursday and Friday (July 13 and 14). Students must report to the secondary schools allocated during the registration period. In case both the student and the parent/guardian are not able to register with the allocated school during the registration period, they should authorise in writing a representative to complete the registration procedure on their behalf. Failure to do so means that they have chosen to give up the places allocated. A standard authorisation letter can be obtained from their primary schools.
If there are genuine difficulties in reporting to the allocated schools in person or by an authorised representative during the registration period, the parents or students concerned should inform their allocated school or the Bureau's School Places Allocation Section before the end of the registration period so that alternative arrangements for registration can be made.
In case of tropical cyclones, persistent heavy rain or thunderstorms during the registration period, school heads and parents should pay attention to announcements on the radio or television for special arrangements.
For enquiries about the allocation results, please call EMB's School Places Allocation Section on 2832 7740 or 2832 7700 during office hours.
The spokesman reminded parents that all Secondary One (S1) entrants must bring along their Allocation Slips to the schools they have registered with in order to take the Pre-S1 Hong Kong Attainment Test which will start at 9am on July 18.
Ends/Monday, July 10, 2006
Issued at HKT 14:52
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