Primary Schools

Schooling in government and aided primary schools is free. However,
about 10 per cent of parents prefer to send their children to private
primary schools. Admission to Primary 1 in aided and government
schools is processed through a centralised system, which was established
to eliminate pressure on children caused by intense competition for entry
to popular schools. In September 1997, 416 402 children were enrolled in
748 government and aided primary schools. Most primary schools operate
bi-sessionally but the government aims to implement whole-day primary
schooling progressively. Where possible, primary schools are encouraged
to convert to whole-day operation. Since 1993, all new primary schools
are operated on a whole-day basis where the demand and supply of
school places permit. The government's interim target is to enable, in the
2002-03 school year, 60 per cent of places in government and aided
primary schools to be provided on a whole-day basis.

Since the 1993-94 school year, the normal class size in government and
aided primary schools has been reduced from 40 to 35 progressively,
starting with Primary 1 and extending upwards by one level each year.
For classes adopting the activity approach - a more lively, pupil-oriented
approach to teaching - the class size has been reduced from 35 to 30.
The reduction of class size has been extended to Primary 5 in the 1997-98
school year. In order to speed up the implementation of whole-day
primary schooling, the government will slightly adjust the class size to 37
(32 for an activity-approach class).

The government makes constant efforts to improve designs for primary
schools. In parallel, improvement works to existing schools have been
carried out under the School Improvement Programme since 1994. By
January 1998, 70 schools had been provided with additional rooms and
facilities under this programme.

The teacher-to-class ratio is 1.4:1 for whole-day classes and 1.3:1 for
bi-sessional classes. The student/teacher ratio is about 23:1. To upgrade
the professional and managerial skills of teachers in government and aided
primary schools, since 1994 the government has been upgrading teacher
posts to graduate level with a view to achieving 35 per cent graduate
teachers by 2001. Up to the 1997-98 school year, 1 015 graduate posts
had been provided.

To support learning and encourage good reading habits among primary
school pupils, besides class libraries, the government has been providing a
central library in each primary school by phases. The 1997 Reading
Award Scheme for Primary 5 and 6 attracted 57 000 pupils from 422
primary schools.

At the end of Primary 6, all pupils in schools participating in the
Secondary School Places Allocation System are allocated free Secondary
1 places. The allocation is based on parental choices and internal school
assessments scaled by a centrally-administered Academic Aptitude Test.
In 1997, 77 624 pupils took part in the allocation and 55 635 (71.7
per cent) were allocated one of their first three school place choices - of
whom 38 745 (49.9 per cent) were allocated their first choice.

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