Tuesday, 17 November 2009

大學生兼職學業兩難全

【本報訊】在踏入社會前做兼職賺外快,是現今不少大學生的常態,但要在學業及課外活動之間作出平衝,卻非易事。有經濟系學生兼職任財富管理經理,2年間賺取了逾30萬元收入,不過其學業卻大受影響,過半課堂要缺席,多個科目成績也只得C級以下;亦有學生因兼職佔去溫習時間,5個主科考試有3科不合格,要靠補考才能升班。

2年賺逾30萬 走堂過半

最新一期中大《大學線》探討大學生兼職情況。其中中大經濟系三年生陳梓堅,2年前開始於財富管理公司兼職,以4個月考取多個證券及保險牌照,更由見習生多次晉升至財富管理經理。他表示,其工作主要靠佣金作收入,高峰期月薪可達6至7萬元,2年來累計已逾30萬元。不過由於他每星期有3至4天下課後即要趕往開會至夜深,上課時亦要隨時候命,加上參與了宿生會及學系系會等活動,故缺席逾半課堂,多個科目亦只得C級以下,成績全班排尾十位,令他感到沮喪。但他認為有關社會經驗難得,且可供養自己並給家用,未有後悔。

該校護理系二年生阿雪(化名),去年亦曾因其文員兼職佔去大量時間,令其5科考試3科不合格,即使後來經補考升班,平均積點(GPA)僅得1.88分(4分滿分),最後只得辭去工作。

港大醫科三年級生李海瀅,則擔任兼職模特兒拍攝硬照、廣告及行天橋,更曾參與薪酬達6位數字工作,不過她稱,只視之為課外活動及醫科外的學習體驗,今學年亦已因學業而將工作量減半,希望能累積面對公眾及傳媒的經驗,將來代表醫學界發聲,宣揚健康訊息。

資料來源:
文匯報 2009年11月13日(星期五)

相關連結:
http://paper.wenweipo.com/2009/11/13/HK0911130043.htm

思考題:
1.你認為大學生應該如何在讀書和兼職之間取得平衡?
2.你有什麼建議給上述所提及的人士?

香島先試微調 中二設彈性班

香島中學今年英語教師隊伍達16人,於課堂及課外均用分組教學,亦舉行各種英語活動及工作坊。

【本報訊】(記者 歐陽杏櫻)中學教學語言微調政策將於2010/11學年才實施,但本身為直資學校的香島中學,則可於本學年率先於中二開設2班彈性班,試行微調方案。校方會按學生中一成績進行分流,彈性班在數學、綜合科學、資訊科技、通識4科會採用英文書中文教;另為配合新高中學制,學校亦會增聘英語老師,令英語科團隊增至16人,較10年前多1倍,以便進行分組教學及課外補課,提升學生英語水平。

校長黃頌良接受本報專訪時指,校方會積極推出一系列改革措施,包括預留約2,000萬元,擴建校舍及提升教學設施。為應付新高中課程發展需要,包括中、英文科分組教學等,該校計劃於現有校舍加建1層,提升教學設施,包括成立學習資源中心、校園電視台,增設綜合多用途活動室及更多課室,亦會擴建圖書館及教師辦公室等,預計工程費用2,000萬元,現時有待政府部門審批。

圖書館大1倍 設備更完善

黃頌良指,日後圖書館面積將大增1倍,設備更完善;至於校園電視台,則以校園電台作借鏡,目前電台每周由負責學生進行時事評論,未來則會安排高中學生就各宗大新聞,於校內採訪同學意見,製作新聞短片全校播放,培養學生的時事觸覺。

另該校亦重視培養學生閱報習慣,每天為全校學生訂閱中文報章,要求學生剪報,周五進行時事評論,「雖然剪報有點老土,但可有效令學生了解時事,甚至作出接近專業的評論」,更有助針對通識科訓練學生多角度思考。

中學教學語言微調政策將於明年實施,香島中學於本學年的中二已率先在個別班別的部分科目實行微調,校方按有關學生中一成績,分為彈性班及中文班各2班,前者的學生於4個科目,包括數學、綜合科學、資訊科技、通識,以英文書中文教,預計有關學生升讀中三後,亦會按成績進行另類「上落車」機制。黃頌良解釋,按學生中一成績編入中二的彈性班,可減少家長爭拗。

2年後高中科目設英文教學

他指上述微調方式經過校內多次深入討論,並獲得老師及家長贊同,他認為香港為雙語社會,校方希望學生既可用母語思維,亦可用英語表達心中意思。該校2年後亦會於高中有關科目增設英文教學的班別,配合學生的需要。他又不排除2010/11學年嘗試於中一某一科目全級實行英語教學,如數學或綜合科學等,以找出最適合學生的語文安排。

同時,該校今年英語教師隊伍達16人,方便於課堂使用分組教學。他舉例指初中採用校本的英語課程,讓學生更容易銜接高中的英文科,他指中學生英語一般於聆聽部分較弱,老師為針對學生的弱點,每天為初中學生度身訂造英語聆聽練習,如外國新聞報道等,學生需要完成指定的工作紙,放學後亦要進行英語分組討論,有關方法對提升學生英語水平有顯著效果。另為鼓勵學生努力上進,他指下學年起每班成績首5名學生可獲獎學金。

資料來源:
文匯報 2009年11月13日(星期五)

相關連結:
http://paper.wenweipo.com/2009/11/13/HK0911130041.htm

思考題:
1.你同意香島中學試行微調的做法嗎?
2.你認為香島中學培訓學生的方法恰當嗎?

通識教材氾濫 老師篩選費時

(星島日報報道)新高中學制推行至今兩個月,不少通識科老師亦感憂慮。有團體昨日舉辦通識科教學講座,邀請專業人士向約五十名新高中的通識科老師分享教學經驗。有校長表示,通識科已採用集體備課模式,加強老師之間相互合作。另外,會上亦有老師指現時通識科教材和資料氾濫,在篩選時出現困難。

香港電台與香港教育專業人員協會昨日舉辦《通識教與學》講座,吸引約五十名通識科老師出席,分享教學經驗。九龍華仁書院校長陳岡在會上分享時表示,該校通識科現時並無採用教科書,由老師自行搜集資料和製作校本教材;另外,為加強對通識科的支援,在新學年已增聘多一名教學助理;亦會採用集體備課的模式,「由於通識科是新增學科,老師欠缺教學經驗,共同備課能有助教學」。

香港通識教育教師聯會副主席楊映輝同樣支持學校為老師安排集體備課,他認為通識科老師在教學時應先確立目標,不要盲目收集大量教材。「坊間有很多不同類型的教材提供,但教師往往花上大量時間篩選,對教學目標亦未必相符」。

出席會議的深水區聖母玫瑰書院副校長、身兼通識科老師賴應虨表示學校去年起已為中三學生教授通識科的部分單元,希望為新高中打好基礎。但他坦言,老師感到最困難的是仍未掌握評核標準,令老師欠缺信心令學生獲取好成績。

另外,香港電台教育網站eTVonline及教協合辦推出「通識教材支援計畫」,包括設立影片庫,並製作通識教案,為老師提供教學資源。

資料來源:
星島日報 2009年11月13日(星期五)

相關連結:
http://www.singtao.com/yesterday/edu/1113go03.html

思考題:
1.你認為現時通識科教材和資料氾濫,教育局或政府可以如何幫助教師篩選材料?
2.你覺得集體備課的模式作用大嗎?你有更好的建議嗎?
3.你認為當前最需要處理的是否"通識科評核標準"呢?

Saturday, 7 November 2009

Wealth of knowledge

There are plenty of thought-provoking quotations to dwell on when you go looking for smart thinking about the power of knowledge.

And when it comes to the wealth of knowledge - the big money to be made from the pay-as-you-learn system of the tutorial school rather than a reference to a storehouse of scholarship - Hong Kong brain-booster Ken Ng Kam-lun has a thought worth pondering: "Now is the time for consolidation in our profession, when the weak will be struck down and the strong will stay and grow even bigger by absorbing students from others."

That line from the clever businessman-teacher known as "Ken Sir" is linked to his chase to sign on more youngsters seeking advancement by loading up with extra lessons at his Modern Education tutorial center.

One of the so-called "tutor kings" of Hong Kong, Ng is presently thinking hard on the benefits to be gained as a new senior secondary education curriculum intensifies the already fierce competition in the private tutoring sector.

Modern Education is understood to be planning to raise HK$800 million to expand its network - 17 branches developed over 23 years - by becoming the first tutorial center listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Learning is certainly a business with massive potential. Hong Kong's secondary student population in the last school year numbered 478,173. A majority can be expected, given the premium Hong Kong parents traditionally place on scholastic achievement, to seek help at tutorial centers at one time or another, for just one term or on a more permanent basis.

They are charged HK$100 per hour at the minimum for basic tuition on subjects like English language. The fee goes up, naturally, for some tutor kings, who draw top dollar for their uncanny ability to predict examination questions.

Many others go for tutoring at home. How many is anyone's guess. The taxman would certainly like to know who does the teaching and earning.

Just how much the overall industry is worth is also anyone's guess. Official estimates put the amount Hong Kong students spent on private tutorials at HK$300 million each month in 2004/2005.

Now driving new thinking about earnings potential for the tutorial centers is the "3-3-4" education system that was introduced in September. It means three years at junior secondary school, three at senior level instead of four, and then four at university.

There is also a revamped examination system. The Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination for secondary five students and the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination, taken at the end of secondary seven, will be replaced by the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination in 2012. That will be sat by secondary six students as the university entrance exam.

Exam anxiety

Ng, who refuses to confirm reports about an initial public offering by Modern Education but is ready to "consider any options that will benefit the company," sees prospects as brighter than ever despite the fact students will fret on one public exam instead of two.

For the current pyramid-style examination system - the number of classes decreases at the senior secondary level because of elimination through exams - is moving to one in which the number of students stays the same from secondary one through six. So more students will take the university entrance exam.

Ng believes those who fail to get into university at their first attempt will be more likely to try again rather than settling for lesser options like the Institute of Vocational Education.

He actually expects the number of students at tutorial centers to grow by double-digit figures as a result of the education reform.

King's Glory, Beacon College and Ever Learning are also powerhouses in the private tutorial field, and like Modern Education they are exploring more ways to secure top places in the transition to the new curriculum.

Beacon College, with 13 branches, is also considering going public even as it checks the feasibility of exporting its "colonial" English teaching style and celebrity tutors to the mainland.

Beacon College co-founder and English tutor king Richard Eng King- hang said the number of secondary five and seven students has increased by 10 to 15 percent this academic year because they know they only have one shot left as the last HKCEE and HKALE exams are being held in 2010 and 2012.

But he worries about secondary four numbers at tutoring centers because there is still a long way to go until such youngsters have to face the HKDSE.

"In fact, the Hong Kong tutorial market has reached saturation point," Eng said, "but we see huge potential in the mainland market. South of Guangzhou, many people are fascinated by the colonial English teaching style."

Mainland market

The mainland has yet to open up its tutorial market to Hong Kong among liberalization measures under the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement.

So Beacon College will partner with an established education group in the mainland and together they will launch English tutorial classes by next year amid a boom in the number of students and graduates taking international English language assessments such as TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and IELTS (International English Language Testing System).

Shenzhen will be the first target for Beacon College.

"Although education groups such as New Oriental are very well established in the northern part of China, there's still potential for development in the south," Eng said. "As long as we act faster than our competitors we're confident that we can seize a slice of the pie."

"Ken Sir" agrees about mainland opportunities and has collaborated with institutions there in publishing English teaching materials, though his main focus remains the local market as he shapes a strategy for expanding his empire. Part of that is a plan to open two more private schools next year, taking the total to eight, and the group's Wai Wah Centre in Sha Tin will be ready to double student rolls when an expansion is completed next month.

Ng's money-making ideas do not end there. Under the 3-3-4 scheme, liberal studies is in the core curriculum alongside Chinese, English and mathematics. Ng sees another golden opportunity because many teachers in regular schools are unfamiliar with liberal studies and marking, so tuition centers will add on more value if they are equipped to fill gaps.

"I have spent more than five years preparing for liberal studies," Ng revealed. "We have worked with publishers and attended all briefings. We have four star tutors on this subject, and some of them have taken part in training private school teachers on how to teach this subject.''

But there's no textbook on how to face changing challenges in the industry, though celebrity appeal, packaging and the accuracy with which tutors pinpoint exam questions are fundamental.

High-profile English tutor king Karson Oten Fan Karno should know because he was investigated last year over a leak involving HKCEE questions last year.

Fan has had quite a checkered career. He left King's Glory in April 2006 and began teaching at Modern Education the next month.

He was ordered by the Court of First Instance in July this year to pay King's Glory HK$8.87 million in compensation for breach of contract.

Along the way came an insight into the sort of money generated in the tutorial centers. Fan earned HK$2.65 million for 40 days of work at King's Glory in March-April 2006.

And despite the defeat in court and criticism by the judge for using trendy and vulgar Chinese slang in his teaching materials, Fan's earning power is undiminished: he remains one of the most popular tutors at Modern Education. nickkita.lau@singtaonewscorp.com

Source:
Wisenews (The Standard) 06 Nov 2009

Link:
http://prd6-libwisesearch.wisers.net/ws5/tool.do?wp_dispatch=confirm-view&doc-ids=news:06a6^200911064480074(S:66595956)&menu-id=&on-what=selected&from-list&display-style=all&tooldisplay=true

Questions:
1.What are the effects of the new senior secondary curriculum on different sectors in Hong Kong, for example, students and businessman-teacher?
2.Do you think this new senior secondary curriculum creates another opportunity for the businessman-teachers to earn money?

Be clear on language of subjects, schools urged

Secondary schools have been told to spell out their language of instruction clearly for all subjects in profiles to be sent out next month amid fears parents will be confused by the government's fine-tuned language policy.


Deputy Secretary for Education Mabel Chan said yesterday that each school must clearly spell out the language adopted for each subject to ensure parents were well-informed.

Chan said that more than 300 of the 400-odd secondary schools in the city had already submitted their medium-of-instruction proposals to the government.

She did not disclose how many schools chose English or Chinese as the main medium of instruction, but said the government would ensure the information offered would be 100 per cent accurate.

In their profiles, schools will list subjects taught in English or Chinese and their own language policy in the new system, under which schools can choose different languages for different classes and subjects.

Ho Hon-kuen, a vice-chairman of the teachers' group Education Convergence, said it would be very hard to comprehend the teaching language by reading the school profiles.

It will be very difficult for parents. What is more is that for some subjects, the same schools will adopt both English and Chinese as the medium of instruction for different classes, he said.

Chan said the new policy aimed at offering more flexibility to schools and students.

Ho said it would have been better for the profiles to disclose each school's background information and teaching quality. It would be of more value for parents to pick a school for its suitability for their children rather than what the teaching language will be, he said.

Copyright (c) 2009. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sources:
Wisenews (South China Morning Post) 06 Nov 2009 (Friday)

Link:
http://prd6-libwisesearch.wisers.net/ws5/tool.do?wp_dispatch=confirm-view&doc-ids=news:052b^200911060270501(S:66595956)&menu-id=&on-what=selected&from-list&display-style=all&tooldisplay=true

Questions:
1.How can the government ensure that the information provided by schools is 100% accurate?
2.Will the languages used to teach subjects affect the parents' choice in picking up schools for their children?

微調後不再有英中

近日,有關教學語言問題又再引起一些關注。前教統局局長李國章在一個電視節目中談到,如果學生的英語水平欠佳,教師的英語能力也不達標,那麼,用英語教學不可能會有好效果。

對此,教育局局長孫明揚在回應時表示,認同李國章的看法,並表示明年開始實施教學語言「微調」後,目前一百一十家英文中學,估計將會有半數不再採用全英語授課,而會改為按不同科目及學生的語文能力授課。

孫明揚局長的回應,實質上是一個正面的說法,但是,個別傳媒卻將之解讀為未來英文中學將會只剩下五十家以至二十多家,也就更加標籤化和「奇貨可居」了……。

事實是,在明年開始實施教學語言「微調」後,絕大部分學校將只會存在多用一些英語教學或是少用一些英語教學的區別,而不會再以英文中學或中文中學來區分。同一家中學內,可能這一科全用英文或多用一些英文,另一科則少用一些英文或只用中文講授,所謂「英中有中」、「中中有英」,二者的界線不再是楚河漢界、涇渭分明。

而此一轉變,目標正是為了打破英中和中中的「標籤化」效應,當然,更重要的目的是在教學上,讓學生可以用他們適應得來的語文來學習,老師也能夠用他們更勝任的語文來授課,從而達到「教學雙長」的目的,令教與學都不再成為一件痛苦的事。

因此,如果在教學語言「微調」政策實施後,一些人仍在那裡片面鼓吹還有多少間英文中學,以至誤導部分家長仍在那裡瘋狂「追求」英文中學,那後果就是令人惋惜的,也完全扭曲了將教學語言決策「交還」給學校、老師、學生的一番良苦用心。

對此,孫明揚局長重申,「微調」目的實質就是「校本自決教學語言」,是「一語中的」和實事求是的,但此一目的可能仍不為大多數家長所理解,教育當局有必要再向市民多加解釋。

資料來源:
大公網 2009年11月3日(星期二)

相關連結:
http://www.takungpao.com/news/09/11/03/LT3-1165741.htm

思考題:
1.你認為教學語言「微調」政策實施後對學生,家長,教師和學校帶來什麼影響?
2.你認為政府應採取什麼措施讓家長明白微調本身的目的是讓學校自行決定教學語言?

港大畢業生月薪最低6450元

金融海嘯,令大學生薪金差距因經濟轉差而減少。香港大學二○○八年畢業生就業調查顯示,全校最低月薪的經濟及財務系畢業生薪酬有六千四百五十元,較二○○七年最低月薪增加千五元,與該系最高薪的六萬一千六百六十七元和全校最高薪的八萬七千元,相差約達十倍及十三倍,但差距較去年的二十倍大為收窄。

港大在網上發布○八年畢業生就業調查詳盡報告,全校最低月薪的畢業生,竟是畢業於來自收入較有保障的經濟及財務系學生,底薪僅三千元,加上佣金有六千四百五十元。僅及該系畢業生月薪中位數一萬三千元一半,與該系最高月薪六萬一千六百六十七元相差近十倍,與全校最高薪的醫科生月薪八萬七千元相比,更相差約十三倍。

海嘯影響收窄差距

不過,○八年最低月薪與○七年最低月薪五千元相比,已回升一千五百元。而港大畢業生貧富差距在○八年金融海嘯初期,與○七年經濟暢旺時比較,差距有收窄。如○八年時港大最高與最低薪差距為十三倍。但○七年最高薪畢業生月入十萬二千元,最低月入五千元,差距二十倍。

另外,港大社科院、理學院、文學院畢業生○八年最低月薪有七千至七千二百元;測量、會計及財務、運動科學及康樂管理、機械工程、後勤工程及物流管理的畢業生,最低月薪亦有八千元。財務、電腦工程、生物訊息學、工商管理、資訊管理、工業工程及科技管理的畢業生,最低月薪介乎九千至一萬元。

中醫薪金去年曾低至五千元,但今年最低薪金的畢業生也成為「萬元戶」,有一萬元,平均薪金達一萬五千元,最高可達二萬元。而醫科畢業生最高薪有八萬七千元,最低者亦有一萬五千元,勝過其他學系。

中醫生成「萬元戶」

而畢業生多從事教學工作的中文和英文畢業生,最低薪金亦逾萬元,社工畢業生最低薪金有一萬二千六百六十七元。

合眾人事顧問總經理蘇偉忠表示,○八年下旬金融海嘯效應初現,本港經濟受到影響,高收入人士減少,低薪一族薪金較有保障,令貧富差距大為收窄。但他說,現時經濟復蘇,加上投資市場和豪宅市道暢旺,高收入人士增多,預期今年的大學畢業生薪酬差距會再次拉闊。

資料來源:
大公網 2009年11月3日(星期二)

相關連結:
http://www.takungpao.com/news/09/11/03/images_0702-1165757.htm

以下連結為香港大學08/09年度各學系薪酬表:
http://www.takungpao.com/news/09/11/03/JX-1165756.htm

思考題:
1.你認為各學系間薪酬差異的情況會有改善嗎?
2.你認為各學系所獲得的月薪合理嗎?

UIC香港畢業生回港讀碩士

浸大迎新制 歷史課程改必修

【大公報訊】港生北上升學成風,○五年成立的浸會大學—北京師範大學珠海合辦聯合國際學院(UIC),更獲拔萃男書院、培正中學、聖公會鄧肇堅中學、金文泰中學等本港「Band 1」名校學生入讀。而在會考中取得1B2C的梁家怡,在UIC畢業後更回流本港讀統計碩士,UIC內地生謝澈升讀浸大工商管理碩士課程,並計劃投身本港銀行業。

UIC首批畢業生今年畢業,梁家怡和謝澈便是當年的「開荒牛」。他們昨天接受傳媒訪問時表示,並沒有後悔當年決定。梁家怡在會考考獲1B2C,但討厭高考的壓力,也看中在內地的發展潛力,故此報考UIC的四年制統計學學士課程,現時升讀浸大的統計學碩士,「希望能投身政府行列,不浪費那三十萬元學費。」她表示,已習慣在內地生活,日後要赴內地工作也絕無問題。

謝澈則看中本港院校的國際化環境和英語教學,選擇到港升學。「UIC的英語教學環境較多,能讓我更早熟習使用英語。」謝澈正在浸大修讀工商管理碩士課程,並計劃在香港的銀行任職。「早前曾有機會在匯豐銀行工作,只是我仍是全日制學生,未能把握這機會,但我對將來獲聘仍有信心。」

UIC社會工作及社會行政課程實習統籌主任吳耀輝說,UIC首屆有二十七名港生,在○六年雖有數名學生取得副學位畢業,但亦有取錄其他港生,今年最終有二十八人畢業。據知,UIC在○六年和○七年分別取錄了兩位來自男拔和培正的學生,男拔學生父親在UIC任職,看中內地院校發展潛力,毅然在完成中六後到UIC升讀。今年更有一位成績不俗的屯門官立中學學生,本來在初選時未獲取錄,但今年六月底參加在珠海舉行的入學試,在二百人中考獲第一,順利入學。

資料來源:
大公網 2009年11月5日(星期四)

相關連結:
http://www.takungpao.com/news/09/11/05/JX-1166885.htm

思考題:
1.你認為港生離港升學的原因是什麼?
2.你覺得港生於別校畢業後再次回港尋找工作的情況對本港有什麼影響?
3.你較喜歡在本港,內地還是外國學習?

港教育對內地有何吸引力

歐陽敬孝博士 香港東英教育基金會教育總監

政府打造香港教育產業的計劃,最核心的部分,就是吸引付得起錢的非香港居民來港讀書,尤其是吸引那些新晉的內地富裕階層及越來越龐大的中產階級。接下來的問題是,他們為什麼要來港讀書,讀小學、中學、大學、研究院,還是副學士學位及職業培訓課程?許多人的答案是讀大學,例子是最近幾年香港諸大學在國內招生非常火爆。於是,特首的施政報告就專門預留了兩塊土地「供開辦自資學位課程使用」。

其實這個問題遠沒那麼簡單,牽涉到我們的客戶對子女教育有什麼期望,香港的教育能否滿足這種期望。我們只有準確了解、把握了這些問題後,才能使香港教育可持續發展,把香港教育這塊餅越做越大,使之成為香港的金招牌。

內地的新晉富裕階層和中產為什麼要花鉅資送孩子出外讀書?是在中國沒書讀?還是在中國實現不了家長對孩子的期望?全球化的世界越來越扁平,中國也在日新月異地急劇變遷中。一方面,中國在國際舞台上的份量越來越重;另一方面,以美國為代表的英語國家,依然佔據着舞台的主要位置。中文(普通話)和英語是二十一世紀世界舞台上溝通的標準用語,中產階級都期望孩子熟練地駕馭這兩種語言,具備全球視野,通曉中國國情,善於學習自主獨立並自信快樂幸福。可是,孩子們在中國的教育現實卻無法實現這些期望:考試考什麼,學校就教什麼,學生就學什麼。人才培養模式和培養手段的單一,導致「千校一面」,孩子們的不同特點、特長、個性就不得不被修正和抹殺。如此,人才的創造性和創造力也就消失殆盡了。

中國目前正處於一個急劇變遷的時代,某些人和某些家庭迅速由貧困進入富裕,但他們往往缺乏可以有效秉持的家庭教育方法,同時家庭文化資本的積聚也遠遠不夠,對孩子不是過於嬌寵,就是過於嚴厲;或者父母忙於賺錢,忽視對子女的陪伴關愛;或者對孩子的物質要求無限滿足,對孩子的心理需求、個性發展、品行培養、情操陶冶很少關注。

香港與內地的差異化,包括學校的多樣性、多元化、國際化,香港社會運行成熟的機制和慣例,恰恰是吸引內地中產階級送孩子來港讀書的最大誘因,也是香港是否能夠成為教育中樞的根本所在。

資料來源:
文匯報 2009年11月6日(星期五)

相關連結:
http://paper.wenweipo.com/2009/11/06/PL0911060004.htm

思考題:
1.除了以上所提及吸引內地學生來港讀書的原因外,你還想到其他原因嗎?
2.你認為香港應採取什麼措施來維持其教育優勢?

教學語言微調訊息大亂

明年九月實施新中學教學語言政策,不少小六生家長已四出查詢各學校英文班開班數目,教育局竟視若無睹,無視學校的難處及家長的關注點,堅稱「冇直接聽到呢啲情況」,而十二月派發的《學校概覽》,資料亦非常混亂,未能讓家長了解中學英文班數目或英文授課的情況。家長團體批評,教育局就各中學可否向個別查詢家長披露教學語言分班或分科,答法反口覆舌、模稜兩可,令學校手足無措,更剝奪家長的知情權,令家長倍添混亂和困惑,擔心惹來民怨四起。

教育局副秘書長陳美寶昨表示,局方正審閱全港三百多間中學已呈交初中教學語言計劃,絕大部分都專業地擬訂計劃,只有少數學校澄清一些框架的不同理解,如漏填資料等。當局將確保《學校概覽》所載的教學語言資料真確,與框架的規定及學校提交的計劃相符。

陳美寶又展示個別中學提交的學校概覽來稿,內容列出一○/一一學年擬開設的科目、哪些以中文、英文授課,按班別/組別訂定教學語言的科目,以及全校語文政策。不過,當中卻有自稱「以英語教學為主」的中學,竟有多達十一科是以中文為教學語言,只有五科英文教學。

概覽「乜都睇唔到」誤導家長
中學校長會署理主席阮邦耀說陸續收到家長來電查詢學校以英語教學的分班或分科情況,各中學的處理方法有差異,而本月中旬是中學四出宣傳的季節,他期望教育局做好監管工作。

另有小學校長指不少小六生家長查詢各中學的教學語言,但教局拒絕釐清中學可否向家長透露資料是迴避現實。

油尖旺區家長教師會聯會主席劉李偲嫣看過教育局新擬定的中學概覽資料後批評,「睇完概覽,我乜都睇唔到,有間學校話自己以英語教學為主,但只得五科以英文教學。」她認為部分資料會誤導家長。

東區家長教師會聯會主席趙明亦直斥,概覽內容非常模糊,令家長感混亂和困惑,「有學校列明只有英文是以英文為教學語言的科目,但係全校語文政策又話初中開設英語文學科……咁即係點呢?要靠估?教育局搞到模稜兩可,家長就會更加不安。」他擔心連串教育政策將惹來民怨四起。

資料來源:
東方日報 2009年11月6日(星期五)

相關連結:
http://orientaldaily.on.cc/cnt/news/20091106/00176_035.html

思考題:
1.你認為教育局應採取什麼措施以改善中學概覽資料的模糊情況?
2.你覺得家長可循什麼途徑獲悉最準確的學校資料?