PIRLS 2006 Encyclopedia

Hong Kong SARTse Shek KamThe University of Hong KongLanguage and LiteracyEnglish and Chinese are Hong Kong’s official languages and share equal status. Reportsand publications of public interest issued by the government are available in bothlanguages, while correspondence with the public is in the language most appropriate tothe recipients. The Cantonese dialect of Chinese is the mother tongue of the majority ofresidents in Hong Kong. The written form of the language is Modern Standard Chinese.Chinese has been the medium of instruction in 329 secondary schools since HongKong became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China in1997. 1 It is also the language of instruction in government-funded primary schools. Thegovernment, however, is aware of the need to preserve English-language learning andavoid weakening the English abilities of students.The following languages are commonly spoken in Hong Kong: Cantonese (89%),English (2.8%), Putonghua (1%), and Chinese dialects (4.4%), including Hakka, Teochew(Chaozhou), Fukien, and Shanghaiese. 2 However, most people are able to speak multiplelanguages (e.g., 42% of people reported being able to speak English, though it may notbe the language they use most often).Emphasis on LiteracyThe Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) has implemented a series of literacyprograms to promote reading for pleasure and for learning, which is one of the four keygoals of curriculum reform. These include the 1999–2000 Reading Award Scheme forprimary 5 and 6 classes and the establishment of classroom libraries and a central libraryin every primary school, managed by a teacher-librarian. In addition, a reading websitefor students, Book Works, has been launched and promoted. 3 Talks on the promotion ofreading books in the family have also been organized. 4The goal of the government-operated Extensive Reading Scheme over the past twodecades has been to improve and extend students’ reading habits and skills. Additionalfunding from the Quality Education Fund also has been set aside to help schools carryout reading projects.Overview of the Education SystemThe education system in Hong Kong is decentralized. The EMB is responsible forformulating, developing, and reviewing education policies, programs, and legislation fromkindergarten to the tertiary level. It oversees the efficient implementation of educational155