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Parents of Primary Six (P6) students participating in the 2005/2007 Secondary School Places Allocation (SSPA) System would receive two application forms for Secondary One (S1) discretionary places (DP) through their children's primary schools within the next few days, a spokesman for the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) said today (November 29). For students not studying in participating primary schools, they can obtain the application forms from EMB's School Places Allocation Section.
"Parents wishing to apply for an S1 DP in government, aided and caput secondary schools as well as Direct Subsidy Scheme schools participating in the SSPA System for their children have to use the application forms provided. The completed application forms and the necessary documents required by individual schools should be submitted directly to the schools concerned during school office hours between December 28, 2006 and January 29, 2007," he said.
The schools to which parents apply are not restricted by school nets. However, parents are strongly advised to consider the schools in all respects such as their educational philosophy, culture, admission criteria, class structure and operation; and their children's abilities, inclinations and interests so as to make a suitable school choice.
The spokesman said, "Starting from this allocation cycle, parents have two school choices at the DP stage. School preference '1' on the application form stands for student's first choice, and school preference '2' stands for student's second choice."
He said, "Under all circumstances, primary schools and secondary schools must not ask the students to disclose their order of preference. Applicants and their parents should not indicate their order of preference to the secondary schools. EMB will follow up with schools on irregularities if it is found that the arrangements have not been complied with."
"Parents should submit not more than two DP applications. If parents are found to have applied to more than two participating secondary schools, their application for a DP will be rendered void," the spokesman said.
The spokesman reminded parents that Secondary schools are required to make public their admission criteria and weightings in advance. Schools may arrange interviews, and applicants will be notified of the interview arrangements.
"Students who are successful in DP application will not be allocated a school place in central allocation (CA). Parents should, therefore, apply to school(s) of their preference. The EMB will match schools' successful and reserved lists against students' preferences. If a student is successful in both of the schools to which he/she has applied, allocation will be based on the student's order of preference," the spokesman added.
"Irrespective of whether students have applied for a DP or not, parents must complete and submit the Secondary One Choice of Schools Forms to EMB in early May 2007 during the choice-making exercise in CA. This is to ensure that students who have not been successful in their DP application can still be allocated an S1 place through CA."
Parents may refer to the Handbook for Application for Secondary One Discretionary Places distributed to primary schools and uploaded onto the EMB's Homepage (www.emb.gov.hk) today for the list of government, aided and caput secondary schools as well as Direct Subsidy Scheme schools accepting DP applications.
Parents who have enquiries in DP application are advised to consult their children's primary schools, or approach the secondary schools direct.
Further enquiries may also be directed to the School Places Allocation Section (SSPA) of EMB (Tel: 2832 7740 and 2832 7700; Address: 2/F, Lui Kee Education Services Centre, 269 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai).
Ends/Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:33
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