******************************************************
The Education and Manpower Bureau today (March 26) published the New Senior Secondary (NSS) Curriculum and Assessment (C&A) Guides of the four core subjects - Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics and Liberal Studies - and 20 elective subjects. The C&A Guides aim to help schools prepare for the implementation of the NSS academic structure in the 2009-10 school year.
A spokesman for the bureau said the launch of the 24 C&A Guides marked a milestone as Hong Kong moved to the new academic structure as pledged in the report entitled 'The New Academic Structure for Senior Secondary Education and Higher Education - Action Plan for Investing in the Future of Hong Kong' (2005).
"The C&A Guides represent a firm commitment of the Government and the education sector to providing a broad and balanced curriculum as well as diversified learning opportunities which will enable our younger generation to strive for a better future," the spokesman said.
Since October, 2004, the bureau has conducted a series of consultation exercises on all NSS core and elective subjects. Through an interactive and multi-stage approach, the views of different stakeholders regarding the development of the C&A Guides were collected. The process has been overseen by the joint committees on the various NSS subjects under the Curriculum Development Council and the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority.
All subject curricula were also benchmarked against the relevant ones in Europe, Australia, the United States and Asia through international agencies.
The C&A Guides are developed first and foremost on the basis of how best to benefit students. The feedback collected over the past two years from different sectors of the community, in particular principals and teachers, through a series of interactive consultation seminars, forums and meetings, school visits and surveys has also been taken into account in the development process.
Apart from describing the learning objectives, contents, methodologies and assessment, the C&A Guides also aim to help teachers carry out different responsibilities. For example, curriculum leaders can adapt the frameworks to cater for the specific needs of their schools and students, promote assessment for learning in daily learning and teaching activities, and use resources flexibly to enhance management effectiveness. With the references recommended in the Guides, teachers can also keep abreast of the latest developments of the subject and strengthen professional capacities.
The publication of the C&A Guides provides a basis for the production of textbooks and learning resources, and facilitate the development of the four-year undergraduate programmes for higher education, which would ensure a smooth interface between senior secondary education and the higher education.
Following the publication of the C&A Guides, the bureau will continue to conduct professional development programmes to update teachers on the latest developments of all NSS subjects, organise teacher networks, strengthen professional capacities, and maintain close communication with all stakeholders in order to provide timely responses to meet their needs and ensure a smooth implementation of the NSS.
All C&A Guides have been uploaded onto the bureau "334" Web Bulletin for the reference of the public (http://www.emb.gov.hk/334). Printed versions will be delivered to schools in April and available for sale in all government bookstores in May.
Ends/Monday, March 26, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:53
NNNN
