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回覆 #1 NLai 的文章
Secondary revolution
Call for choice as the IB replaces A-levels in Hong Kong. Liz Gooch reports
Liz Gooch
Oct 27, 2007 (SCMP)
It has been hailed as education's answer to the demands of a globalised, 21st-century world. With a rigorous curriculum covering subjects from humanities and science to a compulsory foreign language, the International Baccalaureate Diploma is attracting a rapidly growing following among schools around the world.
But as the number of international schools in Hong Kong offering British A-levels dwindles, concerns have emerged about whether the international alternative is suitable for all students.
The popularity of the IB in Hong Kong has soared in recent years, with 14 schools offering the diploma. From the beginning of this academic year, all English Schools Foundation schools have followed the IB diploma, along with others such as Yew Chung, Australian and Chinese international schools.
German Swiss is one of the few international schools still offering A-levels. This year the school, which will continue to offer A-levels until 2013, has admitted a number of students, including some from the ESF, who transferred because they did not want to sit the IB.
Fleshing out the debate over the merits of each qualification earlier this month was Michael Parris, senior market development manager of the Cambridge Education Group, who gave a presentation at the British Council in Hong Kong.
Mr Parris echoed local concerns that the IB may not cater for all students. "If the student has selected IB for the right reasons - that it suits them and they're excited by that prospect - then that's a positive," he said. "There's a risk that students choose the IB because it's the latest trend or perhaps because there's no other choice available, which clearly can't be good."
Although both qualifications prepare students for university, A-levels and the IB differ greatly. A-levels comprise two components; the standalone AS and the more advanced A2 exam, which is not a qualification in its own right. Students typically study four subjects at AS, dropping down to three at A2, although many Hong Kong students take more. Both AS and A2 modules in the same subject have to be passed to constitute an A-level.
It was revealed by Britain's Schools Minister Ed Balls this week that the future of the A-level would be reconsidered in 2013, when the new diploma structure for England and Wales has been fully implemented.
The IB, which is a whole curriculum qualification, requires students to study six subjects across a range of disciplines, including a second language. They must also study a "theory of knowledge" unit, write an essay of 4,000 words, and complete a Creative Action and Service (CAS) component, which requires students to be involved in artistic pursuits, sports and community service work.
The six subject areas - two languages, experimental sciences, arts, maths and computer science, and individuals and societies - are marked on a scale of N (no grade) and one (very poor) to seven (excellent). With three marks given jointly for the essay and CAS component, the most points a student can score is 45.
Mr Parris, who recruits Hong Kong students for his group's British schools, one of which offers the IB, said the diploma was a broader qualification which allowed students to "personalise" their studies.
However, he said: "It's not a one-size-fits-all. For those who it suits it's a fantastic qualification. These are the type of people who are perhaps more able to guide their own learning." It forced people to cover a range of subjects instead of focusing on a particular field.
"That's where potentially you've got a problem ... somebody who isn't as broad has to study subjects that they're not as good at. You might have a scientist who happens not to be very good at humanities and languages, who therefore perhaps wouldn't do very well in the IB. If their only other choice is a vocational route then that might be a good opportunity missed."
But Mr Parris said the type of learning required in the IB made the qualification popular with universities. "I think it's because of the breadth and the theory of knowledge [component] that leads students into more critical thinking, analysis, generating their own opinions and presenting an argument, which are exactly the skills they need to develop when they get to university," he said.
Although offering both the IB and A-levels at individual schools was probably unrealistic, Mr Parris said it would be better if more alternatives were available across Hong Kong.
From the beginning of this academic year, ESF students have had to choose between studying the IB or the ESF diploma, a vocational course that draws on elements of the IB. This has led some students to seek alternatives, with some enrolling in the German Swiss school to study A-levels.
Head of German Swiss' English secondary department, Mary Peart, said this academic year the school received more applications than normal for Year 12.
"We certainly took students in from ESF which we wouldn't normally do," she said. "All the ESF students did say `we didn't want to do the IB, we wanted to do the A-levels'. Several of them were looking at medicine and particularly wanted to do the three sciences, which is not possible under the IB."
The school decided to delay introducing the IB until 2013 after surveying parents and teachers. Ms Peart said parents of secondary students were in favour of continuing with the A-levels, while those with primary students were more supportive of the IB. Current secondary students would be able to complete A-levels before the school made the switch.
She said although the IB prepared students well for university, A-levels still had many advantages, including allowing students to specialise.
"Students are extremely well motivated because they are studying what they want to do," she said. "It does cater for the very capable ... but also students who are less able."
She said catering for all abilities would be a challenge under the IB. |
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發表於 08-5-8 23:23
