EDB provides information on further studies to secondary school leavers
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     To help Secondary 7 (S7) and Secondary 5 (S5) students preparing for this year's release of the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination and the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination results, the Education Bureau (EDB) is providing comprehensive information on further studies through various channels.  

     An EDB spokesman said today (June 29), "The bureau strives to provide all the necessary information to help S7 and S5 graduates to choose suitable institutions and programmes for further studies.  EDB is, by various means, providing information on accredited study programmes.  We encourage students to carefully study the related information before making an informed choice about their articulation pathway."

     The EDB has updated the "Information Portal for Accredited Self-financing Post-secondary Programmes", or the iPASS website (www.ipass.gov.hk).  The website contains information on self-financing Higher Diploma, Associate Degree and degree programmes offered by various post-secondary institutions in the 2009-10 academic year.  For each programme, information provided includes tuition fees, entry requirements, accreditation and recognition by relevant professional bodies (where applicable).

     Institution-related information has also been updated on the iPASS website, including student enrolment figures, qualifications of teaching staff, and teaching facilities available.  Articulation and employment statistics of institutions' sub-degree graduates last year are also shown.

     In addition, the EDB will organise the annual Information Expo for Secondary School Leavers, on the ground floor of the Central Atrium of Olympian City Phase Two on July 18 and 19.  The expo will provide information on multiple articulation pathways.  There will be more than 20 exhibition booths on locally accredited post-secondary programmes, vocational education courses, the iPASS website, Project Yi Jin and information for non-Chinese speaking students.

     The bureau continues to produce careers guidance handbooks for S7 and S5 graduates in conjunction with the Hong Kong Association of Careers Masters and Guidance Masters.  The handbooks provide students with information on further studies and vocational education.  The "Careers Guidance Handbook for Secondary 7 Graduates" is being distributed free of charge to S7 graduates via schools, the bureau's Regional Education Offices, "Youth Employment Start" and job centres of the Labour Department, and public enquiry service centres of various district offices.  The electronic version is available on the iPASS website.  The "Careers Guidance Handbook for Secondary 5 Graduates" will be distributed in early July.

     The spokesman appealed to secondary school leavers to choose accredited programmes while considering further studies.  He said, "When selecting sub-degree programmes, students should take into account the quality of the institution, the contents of the concerned programmes, the minimum entry requirements, as well as their own abilities and interests."

Ends/Monday, June 29, 2009
Issued at HKT 12:53

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