Optimising Senior Secondary Core Subjects
Overview
The Task Force on Review of School Curriculum (Task Force) was set up by the Education
Bureau (EDB) in November 2017 to holistically review the primary and secondary curricula to equip our students for future challenges, cater for their different learning needs, and create space and
opportunities for fostering their whole-person development.
The Task Force submitted its review report to the EDB in September 2020 with six
directional recommendations.
Whole-person development Values education and life
planning education
Creating space and catering for learner diversity
Applied learning
University admissions
STEM education
Six directional recommendations
The EDB accepted the directional recommendations set out in the report in December 2020, which
include optimising the curricula and assessments of the four senior secondary (SS) core subjects to create space for students as well as to cater for their diverse interests, abilities and aspirations.
The review of SS subjects is an ongoing curriculum development process for the betterment of student learning.
In optimising SS subjects, the arrangements will be in place for the four core subjects first.
Creating space and catering for learner diversity
To follow up on the Task Force’s recommendations for creating space and catering for learner diversity, the EDB has proposed measures in conjunction with the Curriculum Development Council (CDC) and the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) to optimise the four SS core subjects through
differentiating the curricula and assessments.
As the nature of the four subjects are different, the proposal to optimise each core subject would be
different while upholding the curriculum integrity of the subject.
Curriculum planning at the school level
Upon the full implementation of the measures to optimise the four SS core subjects, schools should enjoy greater flexibility to cater for the diverse learning needs of students through curriculum planning at the school level.
The release of lesson time from optimising the four SS core subjects is as follows:
Subject Lesson time to be released (notional) Chinese Language About 50 hours
English Language About 50 hours
Mathematics About 50 hours
Renamed Subject in lieu of Liberal Studies
About 100 hours
Making the most of the lesson time to be released
Lesson time will be released for students to…
take an additional elective subject in Key Learning Areas (KLAs) or Applied Learning (ApL)
engage in more in-depth study of subjects
study the Extended Part (Module 1 / Module 2) (M1 / M2) in parallel with the Compulsory Part of
Mathematics
participate more actively in Other Learning Experiences (OLE) / life-wide learning activities
engage in other personal pursuits to cater for the different interests, abilities and aspirations of students
Catering for the differentiated needs of students within the school context
The time to be released from each of the four SS core subjects is not prescriptive nor an across-the-board hard indicator because of difference in school
contexts and variation in student needs.
In the interest of student learning, schools should consider the arrangements for all four SS core
subjects in a holistic manner, and make professional decisions in consultation with the Incorporated
Management Committee (IMC) / School Management Committee (SMC) and staff on the allocation of lesson time and the offer of subject choices.
conducted from 2 February to 2 March 2021
questionnaire to be delivered to the schools which have installed the Web-based School Administration and Management System
(WebSAMS) via the Communication and Delivery System (CDS)
each school to complete ONE
questionnaire only and return it to the EDB via the CDS on or before 2 March 2021
School questionnaire survey
Details of school briefing sessions
Course Name Date Course ID Target Audience Briefing Sessions on Optimising
the Four Senior Secondary Core Subjects (NEW)
5 and 18
Feb CDI020211034 Principals and vice- principals 優化高中中國語文科簡介會
（新辦）
19 and 23
Feb CDI020201702 Panel heads and teachers of
related subjects Briefing Sessions on Optimising
Senior Secondary English Language (NEW)
CDI020210997
Briefing Sessions on Optimising Senior Secondary Mathematics (NEW)
CDI020211057
Briefing Session on the Senior Secondary Renamed Subject
10 and 17
Feb CDI020210811
