SED speaks on HKDSE examination (with photo)

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, at a media session after her visit to Jockey Club Ti-I College to give encouragement to this year's candidates of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination today (July 17):
 
Reporter: Are there any factors that led to the increase of the number of top scorers in the examination this year? How effective is the Citizenship and Social Development subject given that it only requires students to pass the subject? Will you worry that students are studying half of the subject? Does it make it easier for students to achieve top scores?
 
Secretary for Education: For the C&S (Citizenship and Social Development) subject, we have standards-referenced reporting for assessment. The result doesn’t mean that it is easier (for students to achieve good scores) than before. It’s not comparable because this is a newly adapted curriculum. We appreciate very much the efforts of teachers and students and that they achieved good scores.
 
     For the factors that led to the good performance this year, we have just finished the optimisation of four core subjects and we have created more space for our students to have the opportunities to choose one or two more elective subjects. They can explore their interests and abilities, and fully develop their potentials. I think this is why they got better results than last year.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)