HONG KONG: Observers and education experts predict the budget to be delivered tomorrow will see the government pour more resources into promoting smaller class sizes in primary schools. Also on the horizon are more subsidies to help poor families under the New Academic Structure "334".

With the number of primary students falling, due to the declining birth rate, it's prime time to promote small class teaching, according to Alan Chow Ping-yan, chairman of Education Convergence.

"Small class teaching can help the development of students," Chow said. "More assistance should be given to develop small class teaching in primary schools. As more teachers should be hired to promote small class teaching, which may increase the operating cost of the schools, subsidies should be given to schools."

Tang Tao, associate vice president and director of graduate school of Hong Kong Baptist University , also agrees that more support should be given to develop small class teaching in order to facilitate the exchange of ideas among teachers and students.

"Active teaching is encouraged," Tao said. "There should be more communication and discussion among teachers and students. Teachers should verbally share their knowledge with students through story telling and the like. Each student should be given plenty of time to share views. Only small class teaching can fulfill this goal."

Under the New Academic Structure "334", more real life experience through field trips is needed. Sometimes there is a fee for these visits, which may increase the burden of poor families, especially for those who are not eligible for assistance from the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme, said T.C. Tai, principal of S.K.H. Li Fook Hing Secondary School.

Tai suggested a funding scheme could be designed specifically for these families, which will receive a subsidy of HK$1,000 to HK$2,000 to help their children join the field trips.

For college education, Tang hopes land can be allocated to develop additional universities so that more young people can obtain a university education.

"Less than 20 percent of secondary school graduates are able to get into universities, which is not enough for a developed city," Tao said. "More space should be given to develop university education. More classrooms and student residences for international students should be developed."

（www.eduwo.com, Anna）