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The following is issued on behalf of the Curriculum Development Council:
Results for the first Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) were released on July 20. We are pleased to see the first cohort of Secondary Six (S6) students under the New Academic Structure (NAS) complete their studies at the senior secondary level. Their overall performance is satisfactory, the fruit of sustained effort and dedicated hard work over these few years on the part of both students and teachers.
The curriculum reform in Hong Kong started over a decade ago, and the New Senior Secondary (NSS) curriculum builds upon the foundation laid in basic education. The NAS aims to provide students with a broader, more balanced and more diversified curriculum, within which they can choose elective subjects in accordance with their interests, aptitudes and abilities, so that they can develop their potentials to the full.
The NSS curriculum covers eight Key Learning Areas as well as cross-curricular learning, and helps students to build a broad knowledge base. The core subjects (Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics and Liberal Studies) develop language proficiency as well as mathematical and critical thinking skills. Liberal Studies and Independent Enquiry Study also encourage students to apply the knowledge acquired from different subjects, and develop the skills and habit of thinking analytically and from multiple perspectives. All this would help to lay a good foundation for lifelong learning. In addition, the Other Learning Experiences are intended to further widen students' horizons and develop their communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills. The NSS curriculum helps to enhance students' learning ability and standards, preparing them for further studies locally or abroad. Better educated students will in turn contribute to Hong Kong's supply of skilled human resources and hence our competitiveness.
Although the release of HKDSE results was in the limelight on July 20, we need to all bear in mind that students' learning achievements should not be seen solely in terms of the grades they achieve in public examinations. Throughout the learning process, students gain subject knowledge, acquire generic skills and develop positive values and attitudes - these are the important outcomes that will be most important for life. Whatever the examination results, all students need to be positive in their journeys towards their personal goals and aspirations. Perseverance is the key; where there is the will, there will be a way.
With the completion of the first cycle of the NSS curriculum and the first round of public examinations, in the coming months the Curriculum Development Council and the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority will work together to collect views from front-line professional educators in order to gather input to further refine various aspects of the NSS curriculum.
Ends/Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:27
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