S.6 curriculum

Do you want to broaden your studies in the six-form curriculum? Now, some educational professionals hold the view that there should be more Advanced Supplementary level (AS-level) subjects in form six. They have been proposed that all sixth formers should take four AS-level subjects and two A-levels (Advanced Level) instead of two AS-levels and three A-levels. In this essay, I will examine the pros and cons of their proposal.

To study more subjects can broaden the students' horizon. Since there are four AS-level subjects, including Use of English and Chinese Language and Culture, students of the arts stream may choose the science subjects or vise versa. The students may have more choices in their areas of study. Moreover, since we have studied a large range of subjects, we can have more choices when we are filling in the JUPAS form. Formerly, arts students were  not allowed to take maths in S.6; they will have a higher chance to get into business studies. In other words, we have a large range of career choices.

Generally speaking, there is the other side of the coin. The increase of AS-level subjects triggers many problems.

Are the AS level subjects well-accepted by teachers, students and other educational professionals? In our 'good' education system, the AS-levels only carry half the weighting of the A-levels. Why don't students study more A-levels? According to the system, AS-levels only need to be taught in one year. However, the Use of English and Chinese Language and Culture are usually taught both in form six and seven. Will the AS-levels in the proposals be taught in both form six and seven? Besides, most students, especially the science ones blame the AS-level physics is good example. When students study a physics theory, A-level students must learn more than those of the AS-level student. Thanks to those "educational professionals", the AS level physics books are not written  in detail. How can a student accept AS-levels?

The allocation of time is also a big problem. In a secondary school, teachers not only work for the form six and seven students; they have to teach junior form as well. More AS-levels, more teachers will be required to teach form six and seven. The teachers' burden will be certainly increased. The morale of teachers will be adversely affected.

Are students robots? Students are the pillars of society. They should grow up in good conditions - a good school. They should have their pleasure and leisure time; they should join the clubs or other extra-curricular activities. The increase of AS-levels will make students become 'bookworms'. On the other hand, knowledge can be found outside books. Joining extra-curricular activities, students can foster their leadership skills, courage and interests. Recently, many students have committed suicide because of heavy workloads or burdens in schools. Texts and tests fill up their lives. The additional subject of AS-levels will certainly not be accepted by students.

All in all, education is like a pyramid. It should have a large base. As time goes by, the pyramid will be very tall with an apex. Up to form five, students have already studied for eleven years, let alone the three years in the kindergarten. It is already a large base in the pyramid. It is ineffective to enlarge the AS-levels. Besides, we should focus on quality, not quantity. So, I hope the "educational professionals" will not practise the proposal for their own will!