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Parents of Primary Six (P6) students participating in the 2006-2008 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 Bureau said today (December 10).
Students not studying in participating primary schools can obtain the application forms from the bureau'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 complete the application forms and submit them with the necessary documents to the schools concerned direct as required by them during school office hours between January 3 and 28, 2008," the spokesman said.
"The schools to which parents apply are not restricted by districts. 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."
One of the two application forms received by the parents carries Order of School Preference 1 and the other carries Order of School Preference 2. Order of School preference 1 stands for student's first choice and Order of School Preference 2 stands for student's second choice.
Primary 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.
In addition, 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 reminded parents that secondary schools were required to make public their admission criteria and weightings as well as the documents required in advance. Schools might arrange interviews, and applicants would 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 Education Bureau will match students' preferences against schools' successful and reserve lists. If a student is successful in both schools to which he/she has applied, allocation will be based on the student's order of preference," he added.
Parents may refer to the Handbook for Application for Secondary One Discretionary Places distributed to primary schools and uploaded onto the bureau's Homepage (www.edb.gov.hk) tomorrow for the list of government, aided and caput secondary schools as well as Direct Subsidy Scheme schools accepting DP applications.
Parents who have enquiries about 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 of the Education Bureau (Tel: 2832 7740 and 2832 7700; Address: 2/F, Lui Kee Education Services Centre, 269 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai).
Ends/Monday, December 10, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:00
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