Public Report of Survey on the School Curriculum Reform and Implementation of Key Learning Area Curricula in Schools 2003

Overall aims of the school curriculum and KLA curriculum, and guiding principles for school-based curriculum development in accordance with the central curriculum

Overall aims of the school curriculum

The statements below refer to the aims of the school curriculum that schools should achieve within 10 years:

Students will
	recognize their roles and responsibilities as members of the family, society and the nation; and show concern for their well-being;
	understand their national identity and be committed to contributing to the nation and society;
	develop a habit of reading independently;
	engage in discussion actively and confidently in English and Chinese (including Putonghua);
	develop creative thinking and master independent learning skills (e.g. critical thinking, information technology, and self-management);
	possess a breadth and foundation of knowledge in the eight Key Learning Areas; and
	lead a healthy lifestyle and develop an interest in, and appreciation of aesthetic and physical activities.

All groups were asked how far they agreed with the aims on a 5-point scale from strongly disagree to strongly agree. Tables 3 and 4 show the percentage of primary and secondary school respondents who agreed or strongly agreed with the aims of school curriculum. It is worth noting that 97.6% of primary school heads and 92.8% of secondary school heads agreed or strongly agreed with the overall aims. As for the KLA/subject heads and teachers, the percentages for the primary school respondents were in the range 80.0% - 90.8% and for the secondary school respondents 67.9% - 96.3%. In general, then, a large majority of respondents subscribed to the overall aims of the school curriculum. A general pattern was observed in both primary and secondary school data. School heads’ responses were more positive than that of the KLA/subject heads, and the KLA/subject heads’ responses were more positive than those of the corresponding KLA/subject teachers.

Table 3: Agreement on the Aims of School Curriculum — Primary School

Aims of School Curriculum Primary school (%)

School Head Chi Eng Math Arts PE GS

KLA Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher Subject Head Teacher

Agree / strongly agree 97.6 90.8 83.9 89.2 81.6 90.5 81.8 82.0 82.5 82.2 80.0 88.2 83.4

Table 4: Agreement on the Aims of School Curriculum — Secondary School

Aims of School Curriculum Secondary school (%)

School Head Chi Eng Math PSHE Sci TE Arts PE

KLA Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher Subject Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher

Agree / strongly agree 92.8 90.6 81.1 79.0 79.4 82.5 73.6 96.3 88.3 82.3 81.6 87.5 73.9 82.9 83.2 76.7 67.9

Aims of the KLA/Subject curriculum

The aims of each KLA/subject curriculum vary (see Appendix C). KLA/subject heads and teachers were asked how far they agreed with them. Table 5 and 6 present the views of different respondent groups. Results indicate that 89.3% - 97.9% of primary school respondents and 86.5% - 97.6% of secondary school respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the aims of the relevant KLA/subject curriculum. In general KLA/subject heads’ responses were more positive than those of KLA/subject teachers for both primary and secondary schools.

Table 5: Agreement on the Aims of the relevant KLA/subject Curriculum — Primary School

Aims of KLA Curriculum Primary school (%)

Chi Eng Math Arts PE GS

KLA Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher Subject Head Teacher

Agree / strongly agree 95.3 93.0 92.8 89.3 94.4 91.4 91.9 92.6 94.6 93.2 97.9 93.1

Table 6: Agreement on the Aims of the relevant KLA/subject Curriculum — Secondary School

Aims of KLA Curriculum Secondary school (%)

Chi Eng Math PSHE Sci TE Arts PE

KLA Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher Subject Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher KLA Head Teacher

Agree / strongly agree 94.2 93.6 91.5 92.9 95.4 86.5 94.0 91.2 97.4 92.4 96.3 87.3 96.4 97.3 97.6 95.0

Guiding Principles

As set out in the curriculum guides, the central curriculum and school-based curriculum adaptations should be based on the following guiding principles:

The overarching principle is to help students learn how to learn.

All students have the ability to learn and in order to do so they should be offered essential learning experiences.

A learner-focused approach should be used to make decisions in the best interests of students.

Diversified learning, teaching and assessment strategies should be used to suit the different needs of students.

Development strategies should be built on the strengths of students, teachers, schools and the wider community of Hong Kong.

The implementation of curriculum should achieve a balance across the academic, social and economic goals of the curriculum.

Schools can flexibly draw up their own school-based curriculum to meet the needs of their students so long as the requirements set out in the central curriculum framework are fulfilled.

According to the responses from school heads, 99.2% of the primary school group and 95.2% of the secondary school group agreed or strongly agreed with these guiding principles.

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