At Least 180 Schools To Make All Students Sit TSAs

Education officials said on Friday that 180 primary schools have already applied to have all their Primary Three students sit the controversial Territory-wide System Assessment tests.

According to revamped rules, schools are only obliged to put one in 10 pupils through the exams. Some parents and teachers complain that the tests were putting too much pressure on young children.

The 180 figure, revealed at a Legco panel meeting, represents about 36 percent of all primary schools required to take part in the TSA, which tests pupils' abilities in Chinese, English and maths.

While under the Education Bureau's new guidelines the minimum requirement is for just 10 percent of Primary Three pupils to take the tests, if a school makes the whole year do them, they will be given back the results.

Education sector lawmaker, Ip Kin-yuen, said with so many schools keen on the full-scale option, he is worried the problem of excessive drilling for the tests will remain.

Ip said he is also concerned that a recent survey found that more than 60 percent of teachers polled had not been asked for their views on making all Primary Three children sit the assessments.

Ip said the government should make sure schools consult teachers and parents before deciding whether to take part in the full-scale assessments.

But at the Legco panel meeting, Education Secretary Kevin Yeung said schools have the autonomy to manage their own affairs. Nevertheless, he said the government will monitor the situation to make sure students do not suffer from unnecessary pressure.