A Good Start

The first Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination results came out not long ago and the overall performance of our students was satisfactory. After three years of hard work, about 70 000 students completed their studies at the senior secondary level under the New Academic Structure, signifying a good start for Hong Kong's education reform.

The full implementation of the New Academic Structure for Senior Secondary Education and Higher Education, i.e. the "3-3-4" academic structure, is an integral part of our education reform to promote students' whole-person development and lay solid ground for their lifelong learning.

The new structure aims to provide students with a multi-perspective, diversified and balanced curriculum to give them a breadth of knowledge of both academic subjects and liberal studies. Students are encouraged to choose subjects according to their interests, abilities and career aspirations. They are motivated to achieve their full potential and to prepare themselves well for further studies locally or abroad.

The curriculum reform follows global education trends and is progressing in the right direction. Yet it was not always smooth sailing over the past 10 years. For the successful launch of the HKDSE, I have to express my heartiest gratitude to all schools, parents, tertiary institutions, government departments, employers and students. Your dedication and co-operation have contributed to a good start in the education reform. It has also shown us that with one heart and one vision, we can overcome any difficulties to achieve brilliant results.

August 1, 2012