Hong Kong educators are pushing for university admissions based on a students’ best five subjects and not their language skills. Photo: HandoutHong Kong educators are calling for the elimination of language requirements for university admission, arguing that it would reduce pressure on students and allow those with diverse talents to gain entry. The Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools has proposed a points system based on the best five exam subjects, believing it would not compromise the quality of undergraduates.
Veronica Yau Kit-ying, vice-chairwoman of the Hong Kong Association of the Heads of Secondary Schools, told a radio programme on Saturday that students were stressed about whether they would secure the required level 3 pass under a seven-grade system in Chinese and English.
“Every year, the day before the exam results are released, what worries students is that they will either fail English or Chinese,” said Yau, who is also principal of Fanling Kau Yan College.
Currently, for public university entrance, students must get a minimum of at least level 3 in both Chinese and English language subjects, level 2 in maths, “attained” in the other core subject, citizenship and social development, and level 2 in two electives, commonly known as “332A22”.
Her association earlier submitted a proposal for the Hong Kong leader’s coming policy address, urging the government to drop the language requirements for university admission to “avoid placing too much focus” on these skills as authorities were seeking to promote institutions specialising in vocational training.
It suggested only the “total grade points in the best five subjects” be counted, as students sitting the Diploma of Secondary Education, the university entrance exam, generally studied four core subjects plus two to three electives.
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“If we choose to use a system based on the points they get [in their best five subjects], it could really reduce students’ pressure … while the universities could admit students with different strengths and potential,” Yau said.
Association chairman Lin Chun-pong said students developed at different speeds and languages were not a strong point for some.
“Some students are strong in mathematics and science subjects, while their language ability is weak,” he said, adding that public universities were already admitting some students based on non-academic qualifications.
He was referring to the “School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme”. The programme was designed to give pupils with special talents and interests the chance to gain direct admission to universities, with their schools nominating them. This year, 332 students were given offers.
Lin called on the government to review the 332A22 basic entrance requirement set by public universities and adopt a points system only based on the best five subjects.
Both he and Yau also urged the government to raise awareness of vocational subjects among parents and the wider population.
Currently, the highest grade for applied learning subjects, “attained with distinction (II),” is equivalent to level 4 in the master seven-grade system. Other traditional subjects have three higher grades – levels 5, 5* and 5**.
Yau suggested the highest grade for these subjects could be adjusted to level 5, so they could align with the government’s aim of launching universities of applied sciences (UAS).
Hong Kong Metropolitan University won approval in March to become the city’s first UAS. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu had proposed creating UASs in his policy address last year as part of efforts to change negative perceptions about vocational education.