{"id":16386,"date":"2018-03-01T15:35:16","date_gmt":"2018-03-01T12:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ww-vb.mine.nu\/w108\/budget-2018-high-school-diploma-fee-waiver-will-have-minimal-effect-on-students-grades-says-financial-sec\/"},"modified":"2018-03-01T15:35:16","modified_gmt":"2018-03-01T12:35:16","slug":"budget-2018-high-school-diploma-fee-waiver-will-have-minimal-effect-on-students-grades-says-financial-sec","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hameed.nwar.uk\/sa\/budget-2018-high-school-diploma-fee-waiver-will-have-minimal-effect-on-students-grades-says-financial-sec\/","title":{"rendered":"Budget 2018: High school diploma fee waiver will have minimal effect on students\u2019 grades, says financial sec."},"content":{"rendered":"

The government\u2019s fee waiver for the high school diploma exam will have a minimal effect on students\u2019 grades, Financial Secretary Paul Chan has said.<\/p>\n

The government will pay the fees for those sitting the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination in 2019. The one-off measure has led to fears that it would attract more experienced exam takers and affect first-time takers\u2019 grades.<\/p>\n

But the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) has said students\u2019 grades will not be affected by other exam takers.<\/p>\n

\"Paul<\/p>\n

Paul Chan (right). Photo: GovHK.<\/p>\n

Chan\u2019s budget announcement on Wednesday that the government will pay for the exam triggered a flurry of declarations from Facebook users saying they intended to retake the HKDSE as it was free.<\/p>\n

Chan was asked on a radio programme on Thursday morning whether the grades of students who depended on the exam to further their studies would suffer from unfair competition.<\/p>\n

He said he believed the waiver would only attract a small group of non-students who would not otherwise attempt the exam.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t rule out the case completely. However, this policy not only benefits students in schools, but also self-study candidates who are not studying in schools,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is not a big problem to encourage people to study.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Hong<\/p>\n

Students taking Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (DSE). Photo: HKEAA.<\/p>\n

The measure was \u201cmainly to express our care for young people,\u201d Chan said.<\/p>\n

Education sector lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen voiced opposition to the measure and urged the government to only pay for day school students to take the exam.<\/p>\n

He said many teachers and parents \u2013 including those who will benefit from the policy \u2013 have called him to say they did not want students to face risks of being affected by more experienced exam takers. Adults have attempted to re-take the exam in the past to improve their grades. A certain level of achievement is required in Chinese and English DSE exams for civil servant posts.<\/p>\n

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung posted on Facebook expressing concern that some will take the exam \u201cfor fun,\u201d affecting the students.<\/p>\n

\"Kevin<\/p>\n

Kevin Yeung. File Photo: GovHK.<\/p>\n

\u201cI sincerely hope everyone will not affect students\u2019 emotions and performance and cause them unnecessary stress over a whim.\u201d<\/p>\n

The HKEAA also responded to enquiries from local media by saying that students\u2019 grades would not be negatively impacted because of other exam takers\u2019 performances, as the exam was graded with a standards-referenced reporting system. It added that it would ensure that exam takers receive a fair assessment.<\/p>\n

See also:<\/h6>\n