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Following is a question by the Hon Lau Chin-shek and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Professor Arthur K C Li, in the Legislative Council today (January 5):

Question:

In the consultation document on reforming the academic structure for senior secondary education and higher education, the Government states that the existing practices for students with special educational needs (SEN) would continue in the new senior education system. The needs of SEN students, including those with visual impairment, hearing impairment, physical disability or emotional and behavioural problems, as well as the needs of gifted students, would be catered for in the new system through a differentiated curriculum. In this regard, will the Government inform this Council:

(a)of the details of the above curriculum;

(b)whether it has any plans to provide additional resources to adequately cater for the needs of SEN students under the proposed new senior education system; if it has, of the details of the additional resources; and

(c)whether it will consult the parents of the students concerned and the relevant bodies on how to incorporate special education into the proposed new senior education system; if it will, of the details?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) Generally speaking, apart from schools for children with mental handicap, all special schools provide a curriculum comparable to that of mainstream schools. The category, number and curriculum level of the existing aided special schools is set out at Annex.

At present, children completing their junior secondary programmes at special schools may, depending on individual abilities, continue their studies at special schools of the same category which offer the HKCEE curriculum or transfer to other mainstream secondary schools. They may also take up various training courses provided by vocational training centres, skills centres, sheltered workshops and day activity centres under the Vocational Training Council or the Social Welfare Department.

While working out proposals for the new academic structure, we have considered the provision of 6-year secondary education for all students with special educational needs (SEN). The Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) met and discussed with the Special Schools Council and special schools of various categories on December 3 and December 7, 2004 respectively, seeking to explore how education services should be provided to meet the needs of SEN students under the academic structure and curriculum development of these schools. As students of different special schools have different educational needs, we have to give due consideration to their case through consultation and make appropriate arrangement to cater for them.

As regards the needs of gifted students, since 2000, the EMB has been encouraging and assisting schools to assimilate the elements of gifted education into classroom teaching to cater for the development of these students. Off-site support has also been provided for the exceptionally gifted to meet their unique educational needs. Under the proposed academic structure for senior secondary education, the above measures will continue and more multi-faceted enrichment programmes will be provided for gifted students.

(b) In consultation with the special schools sector, we are studying how the proposed academic structure should be applied to these special schools to meet students' diverse needs. We will take into account relevant views in working out the implementation details, including deployment of necessary resources to cater for the SEN students.

(c) Special education is a part of our education system and hence an integral subject in the consultation on the academic structure reform. Children with special educational needs are entitled to the same rights and access to education as all other children of the relevant age group. The EMB met with the Special Schools Council and special schools of various categories as well as the parents concerned on December 3 and December 7, 2004 respectively, soliciting their views as to how education services should be provided to meet the needs of SEN students under the academic structure and curriculum development of these schools. Members of the public are also welcome to send their views on the proposed academic structure reform for senior secondary education and higher education to the EMB on or before January 19, 2005.

Ends/Wednesday, January 5, 2005

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