DSS system in Hong Kong
SOWK 1001 Introduction to Social Administration
Topic: Critically examine the pros and cons of the Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) in primary and secondary education in Hong Kong. Take two traditional well-known schools as case examples (one DSS and the other non-DSS) to illustrate your answer.
1. Introduction
The education system in Hong Kong is centrally administered by the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB). The role of the EMB is mainly to monitor and regulate both the aided and government schools. As a result, the services of schools provided to students are remarkably homogeneous and cannot meet the diversified needs of parents. Under this situation, the government encourages different private education bodies to play a more innovative role in Hong Kong education system so to provide more choices and better quality education service to the public. (Tung, 1999; EMB, 2004) 2. Background of Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS)
In the 1970s, the implementation of the 9-year Compulsory Education policy had led to huge upsurge in the demand of student places at schools. As there was a huge gap between the supply and demand, the government planned to put forward the Bought Place System (BPS) scheme to buy places from the private schools. However, this policy was not supported by private schools since their daily operations would be hampered by the policy. The Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) was therefore proposed in the Education Commission Report No. 3 in 1988 (Education Commission, 1988) in order to provide more choices for parents and build a stronger private sector in provision of education.
As mentioned in the Commission Report No. 3, the government encouraged and could subsidize the growth of private or subsidized schools and at the same time allowing the schools to enjoy the maximum freedom on determining their schools’ curricula, fees and entrance requirements as long as the original basic
Topic: Critically examine the pros and cons of the Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) in primary and secondary education in Hong Kong. Take two traditional well-known schools as case examples (one DSS and the other non-DSS) to illustrate your answer.
1. Introduction
The education system in Hong Kong is centrally administered by the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB). The role of the EMB is mainly to monitor and regulate both the aided and government schools. As a result, the services of schools provided to students are remarkably homogeneous and cannot meet the diversified needs of parents. Under this situation, the government encourages different private education bodies to play a more innovative role in Hong Kong education system so to provide more choices and better quality education service to the public. (Tung, 1999; EMB, 2004) 2. Background of Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS)
In the 1970s, the implementation of the 9-year Compulsory Education policy had led to huge upsurge in the demand of student places at schools. As there was a huge gap between the supply and demand, the government planned to put forward the Bought Place System (BPS) scheme to buy places from the private schools. However, this policy was not supported by private schools since their daily operations would be hampered by the policy. The Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) was therefore proposed in the Education Commission Report No. 3 in 1988 (Education Commission, 1988) in order to provide more choices for parents and build a stronger private sector in provision of education.
As mentioned in the Commission Report No. 3, the government encouraged and could subsidize the growth of private or subsidized schools and at the same time allowing the schools to enjoy the maximum freedom on determining their schools’ curricula, fees and entrance requirements as long as the original basic