SED on Basic Competency Assessment Research Study
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Reporter: Is there any instruction if schools refuse to join the BCA (Basic Competency Assessment Research Study)? Some of the legislators talked to you and they said that you have not responded in a very direct way.
Secretary for Education: I think I have said that several times already that the 2017 research project (BCA) is a continuation of the 2016 research project (2016 Tryout Study (Primary 3)), in which we only had 50 schools participating and the feedback was tremendous and overwhelmingly positive. We were requested to consider offering the same experience to all schools in Hong Kong first before we decide what to do eventually with TSA (Territory-wide System Assessment). That is what we are doing today. We have sent the invitation and about 500 schools, almost full participation of the schools, registered for this research project (BCA). Indeed part one (oral and CAV assessments) has been smoothly launched already a few weeks back and then part two (written assessments) will be coming forward pretty soon in June. As evidence, the school sector, teachers and principals, including parents are supportive of that once they realise the experience and the details. So there is no such thing called compulsory. We need to respect, we need to trust the principals, teachers and parents and this is their consensus to proceed with this research project (BCA) before we finalise the next phase, whatever is going to be decided on the TSA going forward.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Thursday, May 18, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:48
Issued at HKT 16:48
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