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The Government intends to enhance the subsidy coverage for non-Chinese speaking (NCS) students' participation in overseas Chinese Language examinations administered by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA).
The present arrangements for subsidising participation in the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) (Chinese) Examination will be extended to cover the Chinese Language examinations of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), General Certificate of Education (GCE) AS-Level or GCE A-Level, the Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng, announced today (September 17).
Mr Ng was speaking to the media after officiating at the Vocational Training Council's orientation programme for its NCS students.
"We appreciate that, apart from the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE), many NCS students would like to sit for other overseas Chinese Language examinations to obtain internationally recognised qualifications that reflect more closely their standards and will facilitate their academic and career advancement," Mr Ng said.
The prevailing examination fees of these overseas examinations range from about $1,100 to $4,000. The fee for the Chinese Language subject under the HKDSE is $540.
"Under the expanded subsidy, NCS students taking these examinations will only be charged a fee level on par with that of the Chinese Language subject under the HKDSE (i.e., $540). The Government will subsidise the fee difference. This is to ensure that no NCS students will be discouraged to attend the examinations because of lack of means. This examination fee subsidy does not require any means test," Mr Ng added.
"For NCS students with financial difficulties, we hope to take a further step to halve the examination fee payable (i.e. reduce it to $270) or waive it altogether," he added.
"For this particular measure, we will seek the approval of the Finance Committee upon commencement of the next Legislative Council session. We wish to ensure that students applying to sit for overseas Chinese Language examinations next year (2013) will benefit from this new initiative."
The deadline for application to sit for the various overseas Chinese Language examinations is December 2012.
Since 2010, eligible NCS school candidates sitting for the GCSE (Chinese Language) Examinations are charged an examination fee level on par with the defunct Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (Chinese) or the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (Chinese). Starting from the 2011/12 academic year, the Examination Fee Remission Scheme has been extended to help eligible needy NSC students by granting full or half fee remission for their taking the GCSE (Chinese) Examination, on top of the fee subsidy provided by the Administration to all eligible NCS students.
"Some NCS students consider the GCSE (Chinese) Examination not challenging enough given their proficiency in Chinese and aspirations, as well as the need for further education and employment," he said.
"The Government is committed to encouraging and supporting early integration of NCS students into the community, including facilitating their adaptation to the local education system and mastery of the Chinese Language," he said.
Ends/Monday, September 17, 2012
Issued at HKT 20:14
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