HKAHSS’s Recommendations for the CE Policy Address 2023
HKAHSS’s Recommendations for the Chief Executive Policy Address 2023
Executive Committee
The Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools (HKAHSS)
20 September 2023
[Contents of this letter in Chinese was sent to the Chief Executive on 20 September 2023. Copies have also been sent to:
Convenor of the Non-Official Members of the Executive Council of Hong Kong,
Secretary for Education,
Chairman and Members of the Panel on Education, Legislative Council, and
Chairman and Members of the Education Commission.]
The Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary School (HKAHSS) has always upheld professionalism and been regularly contributing suggestions to the HKSAR Government on education policies and the nurture of youth. We welcome the idea of “Hong Kong will prosper only when its young people thrive” as outlined in the Policy Address 2022, under which the government has promised to create opportunities for children to grow and develop. It is hoped that our children will be nurtured to love the country and Hong Kong with a global vision, contributing to the development of our country and Hong Kong. To continue along that line and in response to the consultation exercise of the Policy Address 2023, the Executive Committee of the HKAHSS would like to raise the following:
1. Seeking Progress while Maintaining Stability, Creating Opportunities for Children to Grow
The Policy Address 2022 proposed that the government would continue to review the actual situation of primary and secondary school places with regard to the structural decline in student population. With students’ interests and education quality as the primary consideration, the government has claimed to aim for a “soft landing” which would pragmatically address the supply and demand of school places. In addition to halting new school projects and measures through school relocations and merging, we suggest the government to strengthen communication with front-line practitioners on how to ride on the opportunity of the declining student population to relieve the overcrowded learning environment and improve the quality of education together:
(a) The standard class size in a secondary school is 33-34 students, while the class size in primary schools operating small class teaching is 25. Policy Address 2022 has proposed to implement small-class teaching in over 90% of public primary schools within two academic years. Once the goal of small-class teaching in primary schools is achieved, the government should appropriately and progressively reduce the number of students per class in secondary schools, enhancing the bridging between primary education and secondary education so that Secondary 1 students can continue to enjoy the benefits of small class teaching. This can also enable secondary school teachers to design personalized learning for students and provide individual care to improve student learning outcomes. These measures will cater for individual differences and address the needs of students’ mental health, and thus helping them grow healthily.
(b) Set a time frame to maintain the number of classes in secondary schools across Hong Kong on basis of the class number in the 2023-24 school year. Thereafter, the number of students to each class can be adjusted flexibly in different districts according to the change in population. This will ensure a stable school environment for students’ growth and development.
(c) Allow schools with reduced classes to propose development plans and retain surplus teaching staff for a certain period so as to launch new education projects, such as innovative technology education and its applications, eLearning, national education, university and secondary school cooperation, promoting healthy campus projects and other educational endeavours. From the experience of primary and secondary schools in Mainland China, it is not difficult to find that many schools develop their own distinctive education projects according to their unique school situations.
(d) As the government has launched different projects such as “Top Talent Pass Scheme” to trawl the world for talents, it may consider allowing some secondary schools to provide boarding facilities so that the newly-arrived children can quickly adapt to the campus life.
2. Active Collaboration to Cultivate Local Innovative Technology Talents
“The Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and Long-Range Objectives through the Year 2035 of the People’s Republic of China” was announced in March 2021, which has clearly indicated the goals for the development of an innovative country and a science and technology powerhouse. In the outline, it was proposed to develop the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area into an international center for science and technology innovation.
The HKSAR Government announced the “Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Development Blueprint” in December 2022, which laid out a clear path and planning for the development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong in the next five to ten years, enabling Hong Kong to realize the vision of an international innovation center. The first goal of Strategy (Five) in the Blueprint: “To enrich I&T talent resources and develop an international talent hub” is “to step up nurturing of local I&T talent at different learning stages”. The government also encourages universities to offer more courses related to innovation and technology, with the goal that within the next five years, 35% of the students funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC) will study subjects related to science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM).
The Hong Kong Academy of Sciences issued a warning of a talent gap in Hong Kong’s technological talents in its research report published in 2017 titled “Science, Technology and Mathematics Education in the development of the Innovation and Technology Ecosystem of Hong Kong”. The report pointed out “Despite the abolition of tracking and the transition into a broad-based education system, almost half of the new senior secondary students in Hong Kong do not take any Science or Technology subject, whereas in the US, Europe and many Asian countries, Science is compulsory and cross-Arts-Science study is part and parcel of many broad-based education systems.” Student enrolment in HKDSE advanced Mathematics dropped from 23% in 2012 to 14% in 2016. It is alarming that Hong Kong students’ participation rate in advanced Mathematics is much lower than that in Singapore (40%) and far behind those in Japan, Korea and Taiwan (57-80%)”.
Up till today, the situation has not significantly improved. According to the data of the 2023 HKDSE day school candidates, about 15% of candidates took extended units of Mathematics courses, about 12% of candidates took Information and Communication Technology; and half of the candidates have not selected any science or technology subjects. To realize Hong Kong’s vision of an international innovation center, the HKAHSS recommends the HKSAR Government to:
(a) entrust the Education Commission to fully review the document “Learning for life, learning through life: reform proposals for the education system in Hong Kong – Education blueprint for the 21st century” that was launched in 2000 according to social and technological changes along the years to ensure that the school system and curriculum can meet the development needs of students and society, benefiting every student and the entire society.
(b) update the “Technology Education Key Learning Area Curriculum Guide (Primary 1 – Secondary 6” released in 2017 as soon as possible to delineate measures to strengthen STEAM/AI curriculum at different learning stages to foster the cultivation of local innovative technology talents. At the same time, it should provide learning and teaching resources, arrange teacher training at Qualifications Framework Level 5 or above, and set up special posts in secondary and primary schools for teachers to take special care of the implementation of the relevant curricula.
(c) refine primary school mathematics and science curricula, such as exploring the possibility of setting up formal science and technology subjects in the upper primary level for a better interface with the secondary level. We also urge the government to explore the viability of replacing the current senior secondary Mathematics extended parts with “Advanced Mathematics” recommended by the Task Force on Review of School Curriculum.
(d) take reference of the experience in other regions which have set up high-level units to coordinate the promotion and implementation of innovation and technology education in schools, fostering teachers and students to acquire and apply innovation and technology in their daily lives, and establish a facilitative milieu on campus. For instance, the Education Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality has set up the Shenzhen Education Information Technology Center, the functions of which include the promotion of education technology applications, integrated innovation and digital teaching resource construction and management. Similarly, the Educational Technology Division under the Ministry of Education in Singapore takes the lead to help schools promote the application of innovative technology and provide support to enhance student learning.
(e) add dozens of additional places to the teacher scholarships (for master’s degree courses) under the current “T-Excel@hk” plan, allowing teachers to enroll in courses related to innovation and technology, and thus building up a core team of teachers for innovation and technology education.
3. Building up Good Connection to Enhance Education Leadership
Principals and teachers play a key role in education, shouldering the important responsibility of nurturing and caring for the younger generation. In recent years, schools have been facing a continuous loss of teaching talents, especially experienced the middle managers. We are much concerned about the leadership gap in schools, which will impact the quality of education. Under “One Country, Two Systems”, Hong Kong has the distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the Motherland and being closely connected to the world. The government should make good use of the professional development opportunities in Mainland China and the world to accelerate the cultivation of education leadership in the new era that is “based on the Motherland with an outlook of the world”. The HKAHSS recommends the HKSAR Government to:
(a) continue to provide funding to support the Committee on Professional Development of Principals and Teachers to implement suitable plans under the “T-Excel@HK” scheme to strengthen the professional development of teachers and principals.
(b) provide regular support to paid study plan for teachers and principals and the “i-Journey” paid overseas study programmes for serving teachers.
(c) increase the quota for serving principal/vice-principal leadership training courses, and expand it progressively to middle managers, allowing more current school leaders to groom global leadership and vision beyond the school environment. The first part of the course which is a 4-day attachment in business or non-governmental organizations can be expanded to cover major enterprises in the Mainland, especially flagship companies in the innovative technology industry.
(d) optimize the teacher scholarships (for master’s degree courses) under the “T-Excel@hk” plan to allow teachers to take accredited courses in the Mainland and overseas.
In recent years, some groups have advocated the initiative of “developing Hong Kong into an international education hub” to attract top talents from the Mainland, Belt and Road and ASEAN countries to study in universities in Hong Kong. Yet, it is unknown whether these talents can contribute to our city in the long run. We hope that the government can communicate more regularly and deeply with the education sector, actively consider their recommendations, and work together to focus more on nurturing local talents starting from primary and secondary school level, creating opportunities for Hong Kong children to grow and succeed, and realize the good wish as outlined in the Policy Address 2022 – “Hong Kong will prosper only when its young people thrive”.
香港中學校長會對2023施政報告的建議
[執委會已於2023年9月20日去信行政長官提出建議。
副本亦寄送：
行政會議非官守議員召集人；
教育局局長；
立法會教育事務委員會主席及委員；及
教育統籌委員會主席及委員。]
香港中學校長會一向秉持專業，就教育政策及青少年的培育向特區政府多次作出建言。我們樂見2022年施政報告提出「青年興，則香港興」理念，政府承諾為孩子成長成才創造機會，培育青年人成為愛國愛港、具備世界視野的新一代，為國家和香港發展作出貢獻。就2023年施政報告諮詢，香港中學校長會執行委員會的意見如下：
1. 穩中求進，為孩子成長成才創造機會
2022年施政報告提出，政府會因應香港學生人口結構性下降，持續檢視中小學學額的實際情況，以學生利益和教育質素為優先考慮，以「軟著陸」為目標，務實理順學額供求情況。除停辦新校、重置和合併等措施外，我們建議政府應就此加強與學界溝通，藉著學童人口下降這契機，扭轉一向過度擠逼的學習環境，攜手提升教育質素：
(a) 目前中學的標準人數是33-34人一班，而小學的小班教學人數為 25人一班。2022年施政報告提出，用兩個學年時間讓超過九成公營小學實施小班教學。當小學小班教學目標達成後，政府應恰當有序地下調中學的每班學生人數，優化升中銜接，讓升中學生能延續在小班教學的優勢下學習，中學教師亦能為學生設計個別化學習及作個別照顧，促進學生的學習成效，照顧學生個別差異和精神健康，使孩子健康成長。
(b) 設定期限，維持全港中學2023-24年度的班級數目，並每年按各區人口變化幅度，彈性調節各區每班派位人數，讓學生能在安穩校園成長成才。
(c) 容許縮班學校提出發展計劃，有時限地保留教師人力，開展新的教育項目，例如創新科技教育及應用、電子學習、國民教育、大學和中學協作、促進校園健康項目等教育事工；參考國內中、小學，不難發現不少學校會按校情發展成具特色的教育項目，並獲認可為某類型的學習基地，以善用資源，為學生成才創造機會。
(d) 因應特區政府推出「高才通」等各類人才計劃，可考慮讓部分中學提供寄宿，協助來港學童更快融入校園學習生活。
2. 積極配合，培育本地創新科技人才
國家在2021年3月公布《中華人民共和國國民經濟和社會發展第十四個五年規劃和2035年遠景目標綱要》，奠定了發展創新型國家和科技強國的目標，提出將粵港澳大灣區發展成國際科技創新中心。
特區政府在2022年12月公布《香港創新科技發展藍圖》，為未來五至十年的香港創新科技發展制訂清晰的發展路徑和規劃，引領香港實現國際創科中心的願景。其中「策略(五)：充實創科人才資源」的第一項目標，是「從不同學習階段著手，加強培育本地創科人才」。政府亦鼓勵大學開辦更多與創科相關的課程，目標在未來五年內，教資會資助大學的學生當中有35%修讀科學、科技、工程、藝術及數學相關學科。
香港科學院在2017年發表的《科學、科技和數學教育與香港創新科技的發展》研究報告，已發出香港科技人才「斷纜」的警示。報告指出，約半數中學文憑試考生沒有選修任何科學或科技學科，相反北美和歐洲國家均把科學列為必修科，並以文理學科互通學習，香港明顯落後。而修讀數學課程延伸單元的人數急跌，由2012年首屆文憑試的23%，下跌至2016年的14%。相比之下，香港學生修讀高等數學科的比率遠較新加坡(40%)為低，並遠遠落後於日本、韓國和台灣(57-80%)。
時至今日，情況顯著未有改善。根據2023年文憑試日校考生數據顯示，約15%考生修讀數學課程延伸單元，約12%考生修讀資訊及通訊科技；而半數中學文憑試考生仍沒有選修任何科學或科技學科。為使香港實現國際創科中心的願景，本會建議特區政府：
(a) 委託教育統籌委員會全面檢視自2000年開始的《終身學習 • 全人發展–香港教育制度改革建議》教育藍圖，以應對社會和科技的轉變，確保學制和課程能配合學生和社會的發展需要，讓每個學生以至整體社會都有所裨益。
(b) 盡快更新2017年「科技教育學習領域課程指引 (小一至中六)」，公布在不同學習階段加強培育本地創科人才的STEAM/AI課程文件，提供學與教資源，安排資歷架構第五級或以上的教師培訓，為中、小學設專責教師，以落實相關課程。
(c) 優化小學數學課程和科學課程，例如研究在高小階段開設正規科學及科技科，以銜接中學教育，並探究學校課程檢討專責小組的建議，以「高級數學科」取代現時高中數學科延伸部分的可行性。
(d) 參考其他地區政府教育部門設立高級別單位，負責推動創新科技在學校應用的舉措，讓教師和學生能接觸、認識和應用創科於日常工作和學習，在校園建立普及的創科氛圍；例如：深圳市教育局設有深圳市教育信息技術中心，職能包括承擔教育技術應用推廣、融合創新及數位教學資源建設與管理工作；新加坡教育部設有教育科技署(Educational Technology Division)，引領學校推動創新科技的應用，給予支援以提升學生學習。
(e) 在現行「T-卓越@hk」計劃下的教師獎學金（進修碩士學位課程），額外增加數十個名額，予教師報讀與創科相關的課程，以建設創科教育核心教師隊伍。
3. 聯通內外，提升教育領導能量
校長和教師是執行教育的主體，肩負培育及照顧年輕一代的重要責任。近年學校面對持續教師人才流失，特別是富經驗和具能力的中層管理人才，學界擔憂學校領導出現斷層，影響教育質素。在「一國兩制」的保障下，香港擁有「背靠祖國，聯通世界」的顯著優勢，政府應善用國家和世界的專業發展機會，為加快培育新時代「立足家國，放眼世界」的教育領導隊伍，本會建議特區政府：
(a) 繼續提供撥款，支援「教師及校長專業發展委員會」推行「T-卓越@HK」大型計劃內的合適項目，以加強教師和校長的專業發展。
(b) 恆常推行教師及校長帶薪進修計劃和「i-Journey」在職教師帶薪境外進修計劃。
(c) 增加在職校長/副校長領導培訓課程名額，並有序地擴展至中層領導，讓更多現職學校領導，掌握學校環境以外的全球化領導視野。課程第一部分的4天企業或非政府機構體驗計劃，可擴展至內地大企業，特別是創新科技界的龍頭企業。
(d) 優化「T-卓越@hk」計劃下的教師獎學金(進修碩士學位課程)，容許教師修讀內地和海外的認可課程。
近年有團體倡議「將香港發展為國際教育樞紐」，以吸引內地、一帶一路及東盟國家的頂尖人才到港入讀大學；這些人才未知是否能長期為我們這個城市作出貢獻？我們期望政府能與教育界作更定期、更深入的溝通，積極考慮學界的建議，攜手更著力地由中、小學教育開始，栽培本地人才，為香港孩子成長成才創造機會，落實「青年興，則香港興」的理念。
香港中學校長會執行委員會
2023年9月20日