Work based learning in a senior secondary school in Hong Kong

Abstract

The Hong Kong senior secondary school system is currently involved in a major reform process. The reform process involves expanding access and offering a broader range of curriculum choices for students including options for vocational education. This is a major challenge in a society where is an emphasis on examination based academic studies and where vocational education is assigned a low status. This paper explores the initiatives of CCC Kung Lee College, an independent high school in Hong Kong, in introducing work-based learning as part of the new reforms to senior schooling. The College in partnership with the Centre for Lifelong learning Research and Developments at the Hong Kong Institute of Education successfully applied for a Quality Education Funds to implement vocational education programs using work-based learning in hospitality and tourism, IT and business studies. The paper using data from participants in schools and industry describes the processes of introducing work-based learning. The key challenges of introducing vocational education into schools in Hong Kong as well as the dynamics of change and reform in secondary schooling is described in this paper and several recommendations have been made.