The following is issued on behalf of the Education Commission:

The Chairman of the Education Commission (EC), Dr. Rosanna Wong, today (October 20) welcomed the release of a consultation document entitled, "Reforming the Academic Structure for Senior Secondary Education and Higher Education - Actions for Investing in the Future," by the Education and Manpower Bureau.

"The EC is in full support of the restructuring of senior secondary and tertiary education which is an integrated change, building on the reform measures we have introduced in the basic education over the past few years," she said.

"The new academic structure is very important to the future of Hong Kong because the economic and societal changes require Hong Kong to nurture its human resources to be self-initiating and life-long learners," she added.

"Providing six years of secondary education, we believe, will benefit students. Through a broadened and diversified curriculum, students will be encouraged to reach their full potential and be better prepared for work and further learning. We also believe that an extended undergraduate programme will give institutes of higher education a greater capacity to offer a wide range of learning experiences. All these factors can only help in the comprehensive development of young people."

"We have a consensus on the direction, but now we need to work together on the details," Dr. Wong said.

"I hope the community will share in this responsibility of restructuring. I encourage everyone to give their views so that we may move forward together to ensure that the educational system in Hong Kong provides the best opportunities for our young people," she concluded.

Ends/Wednesday, 20 October, 2004