17 Three Languages: One Future

Abstract

Hong Kong's current language in education policy, based largely on recommendations set out in Education Commission Report Number 4, has bee n th e subjec t o f considerabl e controvers y sinc e it s announcement. The policy, which calls for the streaming o f students into Chinese or English medium schools based on an assessment made in primary 6 , represents a major shift in language education in Hong Kong and ha s sparke d renewe d debat e o n th e respectiv e role s o f English and Chinese in the community's education system. Among the proposal's most vocal critics is Dr Daniel So, who claims the policy will result in a renewal of 'language-based bifurcation in Hong Kong secondary schools' . D r S o suggests a n alternativ e base d o n th e principles o f freedo m o f choic e an d 'concurren t multilingual ' education. Thi s chapte r present s th e result s o f a study aime d a t measuring the degree of support which the new language in education policy enjoys among students, teachers, parents and business people, compared to Dr So's alternative proposal. The results show that the government has so far failed to secure significant public support fo r its policy, and that Dr So's proposal more nearly reflects the wishes of the sample populations surveyed.

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