― A Learning Journey for All Students to Succeed in the Globalised World

The New Academic Structurefor Senior Secondary Education and Higher Education

Introduction tothe New Academic Structure

– Latest Development & Way Forward

Dr SK KWANPrincipal Education Officer(Curriculum Development)Education Bureau28 October 2010

Comparison ofOld Academic Structure and New Academic Structure

NewAcademic Structure

Degree & Sub-degree Programmes

Secondary 1

20121st HKDSE

20161st cohort of graduates

Sep 2009

Secondary 2

Secondary 3

Secondary 4

Secondary 5

Secondary 6New Senior Secondary

Oth

er

Path

way

s

OldAcademic Structure

HKCEE

Secondary 1

Secondary 2

Secondary 3

Secondary 4

Secondary 5

S6

S7

Degree & Sub-degree

Programmes

HKALE

Oth

er

Path

way

s

OtherPathways

New Senior Secondary Curriculum

45-55% 20-30% 15-35%

New Senior Secondary CurriculumPromote all round development

Provide diversified learning opportunities

New Senior Secondary CurriculumPromote all round development

Provide diversified learning opportunities

*Schools will offer different NSS elective subjects depending on individual schools’ context and students’ needs. Some schools may also offer ApL courses and/or other language courses.

4 Core Subjects

Chinese LanguageEnglish Language

MathematicsLiberal Studies

2 or 3Elective Subjects

2 or 3 subjects chosen from NSS

elective subjects, or from Applied Learningand/or other language

courses*

Other LearningExperiences

Moral and Civic EducationCareer-related Experiences

Community ServiceAesthetic DevelopmentPhysical Development

NSS SubjectsKey Learning Areas Subjects

Chinese Language Education

Chinese Language (Core Subject)

Chinese Literature

English Language Education

English Language (Core Subject)

Literature in English

Mathematics Education

Mathematics (Core Subject:including the Compulsory Part and + two Extended Modules)Liberal Studies (Core Subject)

NSS Subjects (cont’d)

Personal, Social andHumanities Education

Chinese HistoryEconomicsEthics and Religious StudiesGeographyHistoryTourism and Hospitality

Science Education

BiologyChemistryPhysicsScience (Integrated Science and Combined Science)

TechnologyEducation

Business, Accounting and Financial StudiesDesign and Applied TechnologyHealth Management and Social CareTechnology and Living (formerly Home Economics)Information and Communication Technology

Arts EducationMusicVisual Arts

Physical Education Physical Education

7

Applied Learning (ApL)• ApL complements senior secondary subjects by offering

studies with stronger elements of practical learning linked to broad professional and vocational fields.

• Courses comparable to an NSS elective subject in design –with equal emphasis on the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes

• Multi-disciplinary learning chosen from local context close to students’ daily life

• Be updated frequently to keep in pace with social, economic and technological development

Applied Learning6 Areas of Studies

Creative Studies (e.g. Image Design)

Services (e.g. Hotel Operations)

Media & Communication (e.g. Film & Video Studies)

Applied Science (e.g. Fundamental Health Care)

Business, Managementand Law (e.g. Marketing in Global Trade)

Engineering and Production (e.g. Aviation Studies)

Other Languages

French German

Hindi Japanese

Spanish Urdu

Remark: HKEAA will administer the ASL examinations ofthe Cambridge International Exam for the 6 other languages.

• NCS students may choose to sit for relevant examinations, such as IGCSE or GCSE examinations, IF– they have learned Chinese Language for less than 6 years while

receiving primary and secondary education; or– they have learned Chinese Language for 6 years or more in

schools, but has been taught an adapted and simpler Chinese Language curriculum not normally applicable to the majority of students in our local schools.

• All institutions will continue to accept alternative Chinese qualifications for students who have fulfilled the specified conditions.

Learning of Chinese Language for NCS students

Subject Combinations of the1st Cohort of NSS S4 students (2009/10)

“Survey on New Senior Secondary Subject Information” (2009) indicated that:

• The number of students taking 2 elective subjects is amounting to 45% of the student population while that taking 3 elective subjects to 51%. There are about 1,000 different subject combinations totally.

• 71.4% of students taking 2 or 3 Key Learning Areas as their elective subjects

• Schools no longer adopt the traditional practice of streaming students into arts, science and commercial classes.

Suggestion for Parents

• Respect their children’s subject preferences. • Encourage children to select the subjects that

are suitable for themselves, taking into account their abilities and interests, their plans for further studies / careers, and subjects offered by the school.

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE)Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE)

• One Public Exam– HKDSE will replace HKCEE & HKALE

• School-based Assessment (SBA)– Assess students’ abilities that cannot be effectively

reflected through pen-and-paper examinations• Standards-Referenced Reporting (SRR)

– 5 levels with descriptors to illustrate what a typical candidate can do in the levels concerned.

– Enable stakeholders to understand the abilities of the candidates

Multiple Pathwaysfor Students

Multiple Pathways

Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education(HKDSE)

4-year degree programmes

Vocational education and training(Diploma and Certificate programmesoffered by the Vocational Training Council (VTC), the Clothing Industry Training Authority (CITA), etc.)

Employment

Post-secondary programmes(including Associate Degree, Higher Diploma)

Study outside Hong Kong

Entrance Requirements: UGC-funded Institutions

• 4 Core Subjects:– Chinese Language: Level 3– English Language: Level 3– Mathematics: Level 2– Liberal Studies: Level 2

• In addition, institutions have stipulated further admission requirements for individual faculty / programmee.g.

– Law: Higher English standard is required.– Engineering: Higher Mathematics standard

[Mathematics (Extended Part: Module 1 or 2)] is required.– Programmes with intense competition (e.g. Global Business):

Good performance in Chinese, English & Mathematics is required.

• Level Requirement of Elective Subjects– Senior secondary elective subjects:

generally Level 2 or Level 3– Applied Learning subjects:

used as elective subjects, or considered for award ofextra bonus or additional information

– Other Language subjects:(French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Spanish & Urdu)used as unspecified or extra elective subjects, generally at the minimum requirement of Grade E

Details: New Academic Structure Web Bulletin ( http://www.edb.gov.hk/nas/en Multiple Pathways for Students Articulation to UGC-funded Institutions What’s New)

Entrance Requirements: UGC-funded Institutions

• 4 Core Subjects – “3322”, i.e. same the UGC-funded institutions• Elective Subjects – generally require one subject at Level 2• Individual institutions / faculties / programmes may stipulate

further admission requirements in the light of their needse.g.HKAPA – Give due emphasis on the performance in tests in

aural and music theory, audition and interview

Details: New Academic Structure Web Bulletin( http://www.edb.gov.hk/nas/en Multiple Pathways for Students Articulation to Programmes offered by Post-secondary Institutions What’s New)

Entrance Requirements:Non-UGC-funded Institutions

Entrance Requirements:Sub-degree Programmes

• Sub-degree Programmes– including associate degree and diploma programmes

• Level 2 in five HKDSE subjects(including English and Chinese)

• May use a maximum of two Applied Learning subjects “Attained with Distinction” is considered as Level 3

“Attained” is considered as Level 2

Other Local Study Pathways• The VTC will continue to provide alternative

educational pathways for early school leavers.• Diploma in Vocational Education (DVE)

Programmes– Designed for S3 to S6 leavers under the NSS education

structure– Features of DVE

• Multi-entry-multi-exit • Flexible credit-based Module Accumulation

Programme

Overseas Recognition• The HKDSE has secured recognition from overseas

academic agencies, universities and governments.e.g.– UCAS Study - standards of the HKDSE broadly

comparable to GCE (AL) Examination:

– Australia - recognised the HKDSE as equivalent to the Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education.

Level Broadly comparable to GCE A Level

5 Grade A4 Grade C3 Grade E

Articulation with Overseas Universities• EDB and HKEAA visited Canada, US, UK,

Australia and other Asian countries (including Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan and Korea).

• HKDSE qualification recognised and SLP appreciated.

• EDB and HKEAA are conducting a survey on overseas universities’ admission requirements of HKDSE holders. The information will be uploaded to the websites for public’s access.

Future Employment• The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) working

with EDB and HKCAAVQ to work out the details regarding HKDSE qualifications in civil service appointment.

• Details will be announced by the end of 2010

Latest Information

• New Academic Structure Web Bulletin（http://www.edb.gov.hk/nas/en）

• Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority（http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/en）

http://www.edb.gov.hk/nas/en

Let us join hands to build a bright future

for our students

Thank you !