《推廣職業教育專責小組報告》概覽

推廣職業教育專責小組 行政長官在2014 年《施政報告》中強調，「每個人有不同的興趣和才能，主流教育未必適合所有青年人，政府應重新確立職業教育在教育系統中的定位，並引導年青一代建立選擇職業的正確觀念」(《二零一四年施政報告》頁22)。為配合《施政報告》，政府同年成立「推廣職業教育專責小組」進行研究，並向教育局局長建議策略，提交具體報告，提升公眾對職業教育的認知，確認職業教育的價值。一連串公眾參與活動已經展開，以了解持分者對職業教育及培訓的看法，尋求推廣職業教育及培訓的意見。為推廣職業教育及培訓，專責小組推薦了三大策略，現分述如下： 策略一：重塑職業教育及培訓； 策略二：加強推廣；及 策略三：持續工作 重塑職業教育及培訓 值得一提的是，報告提及「重塑香港職業教育及培訓為職業專才教育，涵蓋達至學位程度，而當中有很大比重為職業技能或專業知識的專門內容的課程」，職業專才教育使學習人士具備所需的「實用技能、態度和知識，讓他們在相關職業/行業有效地履行職務」 (《2015年推廣職業教育專責小組報告》頁77)。以上建議能夠進一步提升職業專才教育的專業知識及認受性。 加強推廣 為了提升公眾對職業教育的認知，確認香港職業教育的價值，報告建議「加強推廣」，藉着傳媒的宣傳計劃，組織大型技能比賽、行動研究和應用研究，展現職業教育及培訓課程學生的成就及專業精神，以宣傳職業教育及培訓的專業形象、職業專才教育的相關職業及生涯規劃教育。 持續工作 專責小組「建議政府鼓勵政府高級官員把握每個機會，在不同場合推廣和支持職業專才教育，表明政府充分支持並認同職業專才教育是社會不可或缺的一部分」(同上，頁90-91) 。 此外，資歷架構提供不同的學習途徑網絡和進階路徑。專責小組建議各大商會鼓勵其會員，在處理員工招聘和晉升事宜上參考資歷架構，提升職業專才教育的地位，引領職業進程。最後，專責小組建議政府邀請相關持份者參與跟進調查，了解他們對職業專才教育的態度有否轉變。 以上綜合了報告的重點，然而報告對教學的啟示仍有待探討。請仔細閱讀報告為配合報告建議的策略作最佳準備。你可從以下教育局的網址下載整份報告。

A Quick Glance at the Report of the Task Force on Promotion of Vocational Education

The Task Force on Promotion of Vocational Education In response to the Chief Executive’s 2014 Policy Address on the importance of vocational education stressing “mainstream education is not a straightjacket that fits all young people as everyone has his or her own interests and abilities. The government should re-establish the positioning of vocational education in our education system and guide the younger generation in choosing their career” (HKSAR, 2014, Policy Address, p.34), the Task Force on Promotion of Vocational Education was formed in the same year by the government to conduct studies and advise the Secretary for Education on strategies and concrete proposals to raise the awareness and recognition of vocational education in Hong Kong. A series of public engagement activities were conducted for the measurement of the stakeholders’ perception towards vocational education and training (VET) and views on the promotion of VET in Hong Kong. The Task Force recommends a three-pronged strategy to promote VET, namely: Strategy 1: Rebranding VET; Strategy 2: Strengthening promotion; and Strategy 3: Sustaining efforts. Rebranding VET One of the noteworthy points in the Report is “to rebrand VET in Hong Kong as vocational and professional education and training (VPET) covering programmes up to degree level with a high percentage of curriculum consisting of specialised contents in vocational skills or professional knowledge” to better equip VPET learners with “practical skills, attitude and knowledge for the relevant professions and specific industries” (Report of the task force on promotion of vocational education, 2015, p.86-87). This rebranding would further enhance the professional knowledge and professional recognition of vocational and professional education and training. Strengthening Promotion To promote VPET and to raise awareness and recognition of vocational education in Hong Kong, the Report suggests “strengthening promotion” through a range of publicity campaign on media and organisation of large-scale skills competitions together with action and applied research to exhibit VPET students’ achievement and professionalism for the promotion of the professional image of VPET, VPET’s related career and life planning education. Sustaining Efforts For sustainability, the Task Force “recommends the government to encourage the senior government officials to seize every opportunity to promote and support VPET on different occasions so as to demonstrate the government’s support and recognition of VPET as an integral part of the community” (ibid, p.102). In addition, promoting Qualifications Framework (QF) with the articulation and progression pathways and seeking the major chambers of commerce’s support to encourage their members to make reference to QF in recruitment and promotion would further enhance the status and career progress of VPET. Last but the least, the Task Force also recommends the government to conduct tracking surveys with relevant stakeholders on attitude change towards VPET. The above summarised the salient points of the Report while implications on learning and teaching are yet to be explored. To better prepare ourselves to accommodate the proposed strategies, it is recommended to have a thorough study of the Report. For a detailed reading, please download the Report from Education Bureau’s website listed in the reference below.