According to “Basic Education Curriculum Guide – Building on Strengths (Primary 1 –Secondary 3)” and “Guidelines on Homework and Tests in Schools – No Drilling, Effective Learning” prepared by the Curriculum Development Institute, meaningful homework serves different functions including the following:

 

• It develops and reinforces students’ learning outside formal class time.

• It helps students to understand their own progress and identify areas for improvement.

• It consolidates classroom learning and / or prepares students for new learning.

• It helps teachers to identify students’ problems that need to be addressed and indicates what reaching should focus on.

• It provides information on the knowledge students have acquired and the skills, attitudes and values they have developed.

• It allows parents and schools to work together to find ways to help students to improve or encourage them to develop their potential further.

 

School Policy on Homework

• Homework should be designed according to the functions mentioned above and to match the needs of students at different levels.

• Homework should be given in suitable intervals and frequency in order to meet the above objectives.

• Teachers should check if the teaching and learning objectives can be attained through the assessments.

• It is quite impossible to draw a standard amount of homework across all subjects since different subjects have different types of homework and it is the quality of the homework rather than the quantity that matters.

• Regular reviews of the homework given to students are important in order to meet the changing needs of students and the curriculum.

• A homework recording system is developed for junior form students to help students and parents to check and clear their homework every day.

• The homework given can help students to plan and take control of their own learning, see their own progress, develop good studying habits and work in groups to develop coloration skills.

• The homework given can help improve students thinking and promote deeper understanding of a specific theme or issue.

• All students should submit homework on time. Tidy and neat handwriting is necessary.

• Parents might arrange various activities for their children's   diversified development and teach them to make use good of time by setting up a timetable. 

 

 

Curriculum Development Council(2002). Basic Education Curriculum Guide – Building on Strengths (Primary 1 - Secondary 3). Education Bureau.

Curriculum Development Institute(2015). Guidelines on Homework and Tests in Schools – No Drilling, Effective Learning. Education Bureau.