the reponse for SCMP

The latest strategy from government is about to re-size the amount of students in each class of secondary school. The numbers will decrease from 38 students per class to 36 students per class in 2009 and 34 students per class in 2010. Within the project, Hong Kong government should pay 140 billion HKD every year.

My point of view is to progressively pass along from big-class-teaching to small-class-teaching. There are lots of benefits for small-class-teaching. And they are:
1. Improve classroom atmosphere, students receive more individualized attention and teachers have flexibility to use different instructional approaches/assignments.
2. Have fewer students to distract each other; lower level of noise.
3. Enable teachers to know the students better and can offer more extra help; recognize learning problems/special educational needs.
4. Have fewer discipline problems. By spending less time on discipline, teachers report spending more time on instruction.

And these conditions are being more effective in a class within 15 and 19 students, adequate classroom space and adequate supply of qualified teachers. As we look back to the strategy that Hong Kong Government is talking about, the class limit is 36 students per class. It is such a big range throughout. And the geography of Hong Kong is adequate space of classroom. Besides, more money to educate a large amount of qualified teachers is a hard work to do in this situation.

Further more, the small class strategy should not prevent from the discontent of big schools. Big schools want to make money from their historic and legendary school name but it will only become a disease in the new changing.

Therefore, I suggested passing along progressively. It can provide a short period for government, teachers and students to improve themselves and provide them a better psychological environment.