On May 16, the 2021 "Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)" (PIRLS) released the survey results. The reading ability of fourth-grade primary school students in Hong Kong ranks second in the world, followed by Singapore.
PIRLS Introduction
The IEA's PIRLS is an ongoing international assessment program aimed at assessing the reading ability of 9-10 year old fourth grade (equivalent to Hong Kong primary school grade 4) children in participating countries or regions in their mother tongue.
Held every five years since 2001, PIRLS is recognized as the global standard for assessing trends in fourth-grade reading achievement. PIRLS 2021 is the fifth assessment cycle, providing 20 years of trend results.
The IEA, an independent international collaboration of national research institutes and government agencies, pioneered the international assessment of student achievement in the 1960s to gain a better understanding of the policy implications of different education systems across countries.
For some 60 years, the IEA has been conducting international assessments of reading literacy and factors associated with proficient reading comprehension in countries around the world.
Hong Kong students perform well
According to the Progress in Reading Skills of Students Worldwide 2021 (PIRLS 2021), Hong Kong students are doing very well. Among all the participating countries or regions, the overall reading score of Hong Kong students was 573, ranking second, well above the international average of 500.
The results of the study show that 92% of primary school students in Grade 4 in Hong Kong have reached the intermediate international benchmark or above in reading, and 21% have achieved the highest benchmark level or above.
The performance of the fourth-grade primary school students in Hong Kong participating in the assessment has improved compared with 2016 in reading "information articles" and "literary articles", and the performance in reading "information articles" is even better.
The spokesperson of the Education Bureau said that in the past few years, schools have flexibly and effectively used different models, fully utilized the supporting facilities and resources provided by the SAR government, supported students to continue to read and study at home, achieved "suspension of classes and continuous learning", and helped Hong Kong students maintain excellent reading ability.
Advantages of Hong Kong Education
01
15 years of free compulsory education
The Hong Kong education system implements 15 years of compulsory education. In addition to the 12 years of primary school, junior high school, and high school, early childhood education (3 years) is also included in the compulsory education service system.
02
Advanced Teaching Mode
Hong Kong education is student-centered, advocating academic freedom and open education. Classes are taught in three languages: Chinese, Cantonese, and English. The learning atmosphere is good, and students have strong independent learning ability!
03
High-quality international educational resources
Hong Kong has rich international education resources, diversified choices of international courses, and many international students. Students can exchange cultures from different regions with teachers and students from various countries on campus and in extracurricular activities, and cultivate an international perspective and critical thinking.
04
Diversified pathways to higher education
a
Hong Kong students can obtain priority admission to local universities in Hong Kong based on DSE scores, and the fees are relatively low. (Of the eight public universities in Hong Kong, five are on the list of the "Top 100 Universities in the World")
b
Hong Kong students can apply for well-known universities in China, such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Fuda University, through the "Joint Examination for Overseas Chinese Students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan". (The "Joint Examination for Overseas Chinese Students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan" has simpler test questions, lower admission scores, and higher admission ratio)
c
Hong Kong students can apply for overseas colleges and universities based on their DSE scores. At present, 300+ overseas colleges and universities have recognized Hong Kong DSE results. (Candidates can directly apply to prestigious foreign schools such as Cambridge, Yale, and National Singapore with DSE scores)
Flying with wild geese, you can see the vast sky as far as you can see. The right choice of parents can not only benefit themselves, but also benefit their children for a lifetime. Planning Hong Kong identity has become the choice of many visionaries. If you are also interested in this, please contact Xingyunhai International, and we will provide you with "customized, exclusive services".
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