HKCEE repeaters

THE government will use more resources toincrease sharply the number of subsidisedevening secondary school places. Peoplewho have not finished secondary school will havebetter chances of resuming their studies and acquiringtheir secondary school qualifications. That is a goodthing. As the new senior secondary (NSS) curriculumwill be fully implemented next academic year, thisyear's HKCEE is the last. About 5,600 HKCEEcandidates will not get admitted to F6 classes becauseof poor exam results. They would want to repeat.However, the Education Bureau (EDB) turns a blindeye to this matter. It would take no measures to helpthem to switch to the new academic structure. That isironic. It is irresponsible of the EDB to ignore thispressing problem.

Some education bodies are concerned about theirplight plight. They have suggested that the EDB take. measures to help the last batch of HKCEE repeaters toadapt themselves to the NSS curriculum. They haveproposed, for example, (1) that the EDB allow somesecondary schools to offer more F6 places (byincreasing the class size by one or two to 35) and (2)that it ask some secondary schools which each haveonly three NSS2 (S5) classes to have an additionalone so that those repeaters will all be admitted.Those are one one--off measures that would not strainpublic finances in the long term. In EducationConvergence's view, it is well within the EDB's meansto adopt those proposals.

However, the EDB would adopt neither. It says itwill encourage schools to consider admitting HKCEErepeaters to their S5 classes in the light of their owncircumstances. In its opinion, HKCEE candidates, whohave taken Chinese Language, English Language,Mathematics and four to five others subjects, will havelittle difficulty getting a grasp of the NSS curriculum ifthey take the same subjects. The EDB also says itsuggests that schools help such students with theirLiberal Studies.

The EDB does not put itself in those repeaters'shoes shoes. Judging from its stance, one may say it will do. nothing. It would leave it to schools to deal with theproblem and leave those repeaters to sink or swim swim.Those repeaters will not be able to switch to the NSScurriculum. The EDB ought to help them to adaptthemselves. However, it would leave it to schools todeal with the problem. It would shirk its responsibility.Repeaters must try to catch up with theirclassmates in the first place. Even if they are admittedto NSS2 (S5) classes, they will initially lag behind theirclassmates, who will have followed the NSS curriculumfor one year. This situation can hardly be described asfair to those repeaters.

It is beyond dispute that about 5,600 HKCEErepeaters will be at a loss what to do. The EDB shoulddo its best to take such measures that their five five--yearsecondary schooling will not be wasted. In our opinion,public finances permitting, the best way to help thoserepeaters is to increase the number of F6 places sothat they will all be admitted to F6 classes. The EDBshould act in students' best interests. It should adopteducation bodies' proposals.

末代會考重讀生教局應協助轉制

政府將投放更多資源，大幅度增加受資助夜中學學額，對於未能完成正規中學課程的人，有更多機會重拾課本，取得中學畢業學歷，這是一樁好事。諷刺的是，由於下學年全面落實新高中學制，今年的中學會考就成為末代會考，不過，約5600 名會考生由於成績未達升讀中六，又想重讀，當局卻視若無睹，無措施協助他們轉制。教育局就這個迫在眉睫的問題置諸不理，是不負責任的做法。

近期，相繼有教育團體關注末代會考重讀生困境，並建議教育局採取應對方法，包括：（ 11）讓部分中學增加）中六學額，例如每班增加11 至22 名至35 人；（ 22）可要求）部分只開33 班新高中二年級的中學，增加一班，全部接收舊制中五班的重讀生，協助他們適應新高中學制。

這些建議，屬於一次過性質，並不構成長期資源負擔，教育評議會認為教育局在財政上完全可以負擔。

不過，教育局對於上述兩項建議，都不予接納。教育局表示會鼓勵學校因應本身情况，考慮接受重讀生轉讀新高中的中五級，認為舊例中五學生，一般修讀中英數及44 至55 個選修科，相信在轉讀新高中時，若報讀原先學科的新高中課程，掌握應無太大困難，教育局亦會建議學校為轉制生提供通識科輔導云云。

教育局的做法，並沒有從重讀生的角度去體待其處境。按教育局的取態，實質是什麼也不做，交由學校處理，讓學生自生自滅。末代會考之後，重讀生在學制上未能完全銜接，教育局本應有責任協助重讀生適應，現在卻把責任推給學校，是卸責所為。

重讀生成績本來已經要急起直追，就算他們重讀新高中二年級（即中五），相對於其他同學已有11 年新高中課程的基礎，重讀生甫開始就落後，這種情况，對重讀生難言公平。

將會約有5600 名重讀生處境徬徨，是不爭事實，教育局應該有措施，盡量使他們不致浪費了中學55 年光陰。我們認為當局在財政情况許可下，增加中六學額，讓學校開班集中舊制中五班的重讀生，是最能夠協助他們轉制的辦法。教育局宜從學生最大利益出發，接納教育團體的建議。

G lossary

plight /plaIt/

difficult and sad situation.

shoe

To put oneself in another's shoes is to imagineone is in the other's situation, especially whenit is a difficult one.

sink or swim

nk be in a situation where you will either succeedby your own efforts or fail completely.