A study of mathematics and physics education from school to polytechnic in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a British colony, a world trade centre, and a world banking and financial centre. The highly successful city is strongly linked with education in Hong Kong. However, education in Hong Kong is much influenced· by education in Britain: Sixth Form education is a bridge crossing from school to tertiary education or from school to society. Mathematics is a foundation for all subjects. In addition, mathematics and physics are most popular subjects in the Hong, Kong A-level examination. The mathematical and physical sciences have changed significantly during the past few decades. The most conspicuous and impressive development in mathematics is the enormous increase in the amount of new subject matter· being created. In physical science, the coming of relativity theory and quantum theory have revolutionised the traditional concepts. Almost all the new technologies in the world are based on modern physics theory. Such developments have resulted in a complete revision of the content of· university courses·and school curricula. More generally, changes at one level of education are almost certain to cause changes at other levels and problems at the relevant interfaces. The author's study investigated the transition in mathematics and physics education from school to Hong Kong Polytechnic(s). The first part of this study mainly dealt with the mathematics and physics education in school,· particularly the relationship between these two disciplines as well as their A-level syllabuses. The second part of this study dealt with the students' academic performance in mathematics and physics at polytechnic in relation to their entry qualifications and the medium of instruction in school. In addition, a number of surveys on the use of mathematics and physics topics conducted among students in the polytechnic was studied in. order to help the author to propose new A-level syllabuses to fit the modern tertiary education in Hong Kong. Finally, a set of recommendations for the improvement of the Hong Kong education system in general as well as mathematics and physics education in particular are suggested.