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In response to some recent newspaper reports on the long-term Secondary School Places Allocation (SSPA) mechanism, a spokesman for the Education and Manpower Bureau today (October 7) clarified that such reports were on the whole speculative and the long-term mechanism still came under review.

"The Education Commission (EC) set up a working group in July this year to review both the SSPA mechanism and the Medium of Instruction (MOI) Policy," the spokesman said.

"Chaired by Mr Michael Tien Puk-sun, the working group is composed of members from the education, government and business sectors. The review is expected to be completed in mid-2004 and there are no concrete proposals at this stage."

In accordance with the Education Reform timetable, the long-term SSPA arrangement should be implemented from the 2005/06 school year onwards.

"The working group will make recommendations on the long-term SSPA and MOI arrangements to the EC. After discussions, the Commission will conduct consultations to seek views from various sectors in due course," the spokesman stressed.

End/Tuesday, October 7, 2003

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