In the early 1960s, there were only two universities in Hong Kong, the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, with a three-year and four-year academic system respectively. Secondary schools in Hong Kong are divided into English secondary schools and Chinese secondary schools. The former follows the British tradition, that is, a five-year secondary school prepares for two years and applies for a three-year HKU. According to the mainland model, the latter enrolled in the one-year preparatory course of a five-year middle school and applied for a four-year CUHK. In the early 1990s, the British Hong Kong government, despite widespread social opposition, forced the implementation of the reform plan, abolished the differences between Chinese and English secondary schools, and changed the CUHK academic system to a three-year system. At this time, Hong Kong's education system was all British. Later, four new universities were established in Hong Kong, all with a three-year academic system. Whether that reform was based on education or political purpose is quite controversial. After the return of Hong Kong, Tung Chee-hwa, then Chief Executive, set up an education research group to discuss the reform of the academic system again, and suggested changing back to the mainland model? Three, three, four academic systems? . After repeated discussions and transition period, the plan will be formally implemented next year.
The reform of the education system has the most direct impact on secondary schools and universities in Hong Kong. For middle schools, the original seven-year curriculum has been shortened to six years, and teaching materials, courses and teacher training need to be rearranged. For universities, in the case of extreme shortage of teachers, teaching resources and dormitories, if the course is extended from three years to four years, reducing the number of students will inevitably cause social opposition; If the existing enrollment is guaranteed, whether the teaching quality can be maintained will be tested. According to the government reform plan ten years ago, at least tens of billions of Hong Kong dollars need to be added. Now it seems that it is far more than this amount. Where this fund comes from, whether the government and society can share it, and how to share it are the keys to the success or failure of this educational reform in Hong Kong.
Education is the deep-water bomb of Hong Kong society. Hong Kong's economic level is among the best in the world, but the popularization rate of higher education is not high. High school students are under great pressure to enter higher schools, and the society is facing the employment pressure of those with low academic qualifications. On the surface, society has one more year to relieve the employment pressure of college students. After the reform, senior high school students have less pressure on the entrance examination, and college students have more time to complete their college education. However, students and parents are worried about whether colleges and universities will reduce enrollment because of the teaching burden. In recent years, tuition fees have risen sharply, which has also become a problem.
Whether it is three to four or four to three, it has its own advantages and disadvantages for Hong Kong's education system in different periods. In the long run, the increased educational cost due to structural adjustment needs to be shared by the government, schools and society. However, in the early stage of transformation, in order to ensure a smooth transition, the government must and should bear the main responsibility. As for the success of this educational reform, we still need to see how the specific operation has been implemented in recent years.