Education System in Hong Kong
The education system in Hong Kong was influenced by British rule
and contains many elements that can also be seen in the United
Kingdom
[1]. It is currently revised, and in order to keep
things simple, here only the education system presented as it will
be implemented in 2012 (a good introduction to both the old and the
new system can be found in
[2]). This article traces the path
of a student from primary school to graduation at a university.
Leaving the optional 3-year kindergarten aside, education consists
of 6-year primary education, 3-year junior secondary education,
3-year senior secondary education, and then - for those who are
admitted to university - 4-year tertiary education in a university
undergraduate program.
While public schools offer cost-free 12-year primary education and
secondary education
[3], for tertiary education universities
generally charge tuition fees which are higher than in Germany but
often less than in the United States.
There are roughly three types of local schools in Hong Kong: those
operated by the government, those operated by other institutions
but funded by the government, and private schools which might also
receive some financial assistance by the government
[2] [3]. The government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region spends 24.5% of its expenditures on education, corresponding
to 4.5% of GDP compared to 4.6% of GDP in Germany
[4] [5].
Primary Education
It is compulsory for children to obtain primary education, which
consists of six years at a primary school. Placement does not take
place before Primary 5 and Primary 6, as compared to Germany, where
the decision about going to university where placement procedures
start as early as in third and fourth year of primary school. The
number of primary school students is shrinking due to demographic
change
[6].
Secondary Education
After primary school, students attend a secondary school. At the
end of six years of secondary education students take a placement
exam that leads to the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education
(HKDSE)
[3] [7], which has a similar function as the A-levels
exam, the Abitur, the International Baccalaureat obtained in other
systems.
Tertiary Education
Depending on the results in the HKDSE exam, students can be
admitted to one of the many universities in Hong Kong, from which
the most-often listed ones are the Hong Kong University of Science
and Technology, the Hong Kong University, and the Chinese
University of Hong Kong. Unlike the cost-free education in the
previous 12-years of primary and secondary education, universities
charge a tuition fee, which covers a notable amount of university
expenditures, at least at HKUST where tuition fees made up 22
percent of all income in the academic year ending in 2010
[8].
The cost for tertiary education is not negligible, and often local
students need to take loans in order to cover their expenses.
International Orientation
Hong Kong's universities try to encourage good students from abroad
to come study in Hong Kong. There is lively exchange between
students from the United States and Hong Kong. At HKUST, more
students come from th the United States than from all European
countries together. The same applies for the reverse direction
[8].
Sources
- Hong Kong Education and Schooling System Explained. http://www.tuition.com.hk/education-system.htm accessed 2011-12-23
- Hong Kong's Education System. http://studyinhongkong.edu.hk/eng/01hkesystem.jsp accessed 2011-12-23
- Hong Kong. The Facts: Education. http://www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/education.pdf accessed 2011-12-23
- UNESCO: Hong Kong Education Profile. http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/document.aspx?ReportId=121&IF_Language=eng&BR_Country=3440&BR_Region=40515 accessed 2011-12-27
- UNESCO: Germany Education Profile. http://stats.uis.unesco.org/unesco/TableViewer/document.aspx?ReportId=121&IF_Language=eng&BR_Country=2760&BR_Region=40500 accessed 2011-12-27
- Hong Kong in Figures: Education. http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/FileManager/EN/Content_809/education.pdf accessed 2011-12-23
- Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education. http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/en/hkdse
- HKUST Facts & Figures Sheet. http://www.ust.hk/eng/images/about/pdf/hkust_facts_and_figures_Eng.pdf accessed 2011-12-23
- Hong Kong Education Bureau. http://www.edb.gov.hk accessed 2011-12-23
- Hong Kong: Education and Training. http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/education accessed 2011-12-23
Education from primary school
towards undergraduate studies at a university