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A former British colony, Hong Kong's education system is roughly based upon that of the United Kingdom, and in particular, the system used in England. At the higher education levels, both British and American systems exist. In particular, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology was established on the American model of higher education. The Chinese University of Hong Kong follows the American model with a characteristically British college system. The University of Hong Kong has traditionally been based on the British model but has switched to the American model in recent years. There are eight public universities in Hong Kong, and a number of private higher institutions. Hong Kong's public schools are operated by the Education and Manpower Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The system features a non-compulsory three-year kindergarten, followed by a compulsory six-year primary education, three-year junior secondary education; a non-compulsory two-year senior secondary education leading to the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examinations and a two-year matriculation course leading to the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examinations. A new “3+3+4” senior secondary curriculum, consisting of a three-year junior secondary, three-year senior secondary and four-year undergraduate academic system, will be implemented from 2009 onwards. There are also tertiary institutions offering various Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees, other higher diplomas, and associate degree courses. Most comprehensive schools in Hong Kong fall under three categories: government schools (rare), subsidized schools and private schools. Subsidized schools are by far the most common type, and include government-aided and grant schools, run by charitable organizations often with religious affiliations (mostly Christian, but Buddhist, Taoist, Islamic and Confucian as well). Meanwhile, private schools, often run by Christian organizations, have admissions based on academic merit rather than on financial resources. Outside this system are the schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) and private international schools, which provide an alternative to the high-pressured mainstream education in exchange for much higher tuition fees. |
Hong Kong Information: Inside
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