The changes will affect all foreign language subjects offered under the DSE program, including French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Hindi and Urdu.
The changes will affect all foreign language subjects offered under the DSE program, including French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Hindi and Urdu.
Candidates preparing for the Diploma of Secondary Education exams in Hong Kong, particularly those studying foreign languages, will encounter significant changes in the examination system starting in 2025.
The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority has cited the discontinuation of services by its previous provider, Cambridge Assessment International Education, as the driving force behind this transition, reported the South China Morning Post.
Comprehensive changes
These alterations will have an impact on all foreign language subjects offered under the DSE program encompassing French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Hindi and Urdu.
According to the HKEAA, this transition entails candidates taking exams provided by official organizations in the respective countries. The aim is to ensure a more comprehensive and reliable assessment of language proficiency.
Notably, Urdu, which was suspended from the 2025 exams, is set to return in 2026. This comes as a result of an agreement between HKEAA and the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education in Islamabad, Pakistan. The Urdu test will now align with Pakistan’s national curriculum and be benchmarked against the Higher Secondary School Certificate, which represents the qualification for the final two high school grades in Pakistan.
In cases where suitable exams for certain languages are unavailable beyond the suspension date, candidates will need to adapt to these changes.
On a positive note, a new Korean assessment will be introduced as part of the DSE exams from 2025. Candidates will be expected to register for these language tests directly with the specified organizations during the two years preceding their DSE exams.
The results of these language assessments will be integrated into the overall DSE results, provided they meet the required proficiency levels.
Institutional impact
In 2022, approximately 500 students took the six DSE foreign language assessments, with Japanese being the most popular choice, taken by 397 candidates.
However, the impact of these changes is already being felt among students and schools. Yuen Kwok-ming, former principal of Caritas Tuen Mun Marden Foundation Secondary School, expressed concern about the absence of Urdu in 2025 and its potential impact on students seeking admission to local universities. The Urdu test, taken by 38 students in 2022, is a valuable subject for many.
Wei Xiangdong, secretary general of the authority, was thankful for the support from the Pakistani consulate in organizing the new examination arrangements. He added that the changes are aimed at catering to the diverse learning needs and progress of students, ultimately enhancing the examination process.
Additionally, data from the Immigration Department revealed that 43,732 non-local students entered Hong Kong last year, marking a 24 percent increase compared to 2020 and a 4 percent rise compared to 2019.
In the first nine months of 2023, 43,945 non-local students entered the city, indicating continued growth in the non-local student population.
