Assessed Impact of Reduced Junior College Places on Stress Levels for GCE "O" Level Students Seeking Admission

Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Education (a) for Junior Colleges (JCs) that take in students progressing from the Integrated Programme (IP), how many and what proportion of places were reserved for GCE "O" Level holders not progressing from the IP in the years of admission 2022, 2023 and 2024 respectively; and (b) whether the Ministry has assessed the impact of reduced JC places on stress levels for GCE "O" Level students seeking to enter JCs.

Ten Junior Colleges (JCs), known as Integrated Programme (IP) JCs, take in students progressing from the IP and those with O-level qualifications, while eight JCs only take in students with O-level qualifications. In 2022, 2023 and 2024, students with O-level qualifications made up about 40% of students in IP JCs. This percentage is stable.

There are sufficient places in our JCs for all O-level holders who meet the JC admission criteria and wish to enrol in a JC.