I used to think that standardized Exam in US, like SAT, was popular.

Standardized tests, in general, should not be used as a sole measure of one's ability, it only reflects a narrow insight of one's ability.

I agree that good teachers can make a big impact to the learning at school.

Regarding PISA: It's glad to know that someone is protecting the exam and our students.
However, every assessment has its limitation, including TSA and PISA.

• business/technology industry has a big impact on education
• the correlation between poverty and education success
• the impact of school banding in HK
• less emphasis on achievement and more on non-measurable skills

When HK references international practices, more research and understanding of the background and the differernces are very important.

I think it confirmed very much for me the dangers of overemphasis on competitiveness between countries because of unique differences, but it also highlighted for Hong Kong, at least, the need for "engagement" by teachers, librarians, and yes, academics, in the act of reading - showing a warmth for it, and not just turning it into another chore for students. They overwhelmingly dislike reading, and yet all the research and studies show that reading, for pleasure, is the single factor that can effect students in their future/s in doing the thing they are most interested in. Krashen's talk at HKU on Saturday morning further outlined this.

Appreciate to run this platform to discuss the education topics in professional manner.

We have to go back to ground zero to realize again the meaning of education.

I think it confirmed very much for me the dangers of overemphasis on competitiveness between countries because of unique differences, but it also highlighted for Hong Kong, at least, the need for "engagement" by teachers, librarians, and yes, academics, in the act of reading - showing a warmth for it, and not just turning it into another chore for students. They overwhelmingly dislike reading, and yet all the research and studies show that reading, for pleasure, is the single factor that can effect students in their future/s in doing the thing they are most interested in. Krashen's talk at HKU on Saturday morning further outlined this.

Appreciate to run this platform to discuss the education topics in professional manner.

We have to go back to ground zero to realize again the meaning of education.

Prof Ho had shared a very bureaucratic point of view of education. She emphasized key competencies of the children. Yet, on her powerpoint, the definition of key competencies is not related to any skill of making a living but related to being an government officer or servant. Positively speaking, we may say to expose the children to knowledge. It seems the more they can learn, the more they equip with a sharp edge of competition. That is how assessment comes to be justified. This will limit the curriculum to a great extent and jeopardize general education. We have to rethink. The students when they reach 18 are viewed as grown up. A grown up person ought to be independent to live on his own. Most students feel they have no competence to work after graduation. That is why many of them are so scared. Many of them got blamed. Some of them just committed suicide.