Educational institutions in Macau can be divided into governmental, private but using governmental system and private. Different syllabii are used according to the type of educational institutions. There are regular education ('normal schools'), special education for the handicapped and adult education.
The survey in the academic year 2000-2001 shows that there are 125 schools offering regular education, from kindergarten to secondary education. 101 of them are private schools, and of which 80 of them has been included into the 'free' education schools network. Comparing with 1997-1998, there are 8 schools less. There are 6 schools offering education for the handicapped. There are 3 universities, and 8 higher education institutions.
In Macau, different education systems exist. There are four education systems divided from the medium of instruction (MOI):
1. Chinese schools using the syllabii of the mainland China or Taiwan. There are six years of primary education and six years of secondary education. Schools using this system are all private, and the students are ethnic Chinese.
2. Portuguese schools using the syllabii of Portugal. There are four years of primary education, two years of secondary preparatory education, five years of secondary education and one university foundation year. There are two schools in Macau using this system - Escola Segundaria Luso-Chinesa Luis Gonzaga Gomes (governmental), and Escola Portuguesa de Macau (EPM, directly funded by the Portuguese Ministry of Education.).
3. English schools, using mainly Hong Kong syllabii, have six years of primary education, five years of secondary education and two university foundation years. All schools using this system are private schools.
Of the three MOIs, Chinese is the most common language used (92% of all schools).
Private schools in Macau are mainly founded by three types of organisations: the Diocese of Macau (commonly known as 'church schools' in everyday language), pro-Beijing non-governmental organisations (or 'left-wing / red-background schools') and Christian Protestant organisations (eg the Baptist, the Anglican Church, etc.)
Compulsory education has not been implemented in Macau because of the socio-economic development and the co-existence of variant education institutions and different education systems. However, a ten-year 'free' (which means parents do not have to pay tuition fees only) education is now implemented in Macau, from 1995. It is estimated that some 400 million Patacas (US$ 50 million) will be used to finance the 'free' education in academic year 2001-2002.
Official statistics show that in the academic year 2000-2001 there are 106,966 students receiving formal general education, of which 98,608 are receiving pre-school, primary and secondary education. There are 8,358 students receiving higher education and 560 students receive specialist education in 14 different schools. The overall average class size is 41, a decrease from 41.3 in 2000-2001.
The education syllabus of Macau began to standardise in 1995, when the general guidance of syllabii of the kindergarten, preparatory class for primary education, primary education and junior secondary education was promulgated. Hence, the development of syllabus was carried out under the guidance of the Working Group of the Renovation of Syllabus of the Education and Juvenile Services. The syllabii adopted is now being carried out in all governmental schools and some of the private schools. Education syllabus for senior secondary schools will be developed and adopted in due course.
There are 11 higher education institutions in Macau, including the University of Macau (UMac), the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), the Millennium College, the Polytechnic Institute of Macau, the Asia (Macau) International Open University, the Inter-Universities Institute, the Macau Security Forces College, the Macau College of Performing Arts and the Institution of Tourism.
In adult education: based on the information collected officially from 122 adult education establishments, some 1,553 courses were opened during the academic year 2000-2001. The median age of students is 29.5, and that of teachers 39.9. The ratio between teachers and students is 1 to 53.2.
The University of Macau
The University of Macau was formerly the University of East Asia, founded by Ricci Island West Ltd. in 1981. Degree courses were taught according to the market demand of Hong Kong, and as a result, not many local students studied there. The Macau Government bought the university through the Macau Foundation in 1988, and the university was renamed the University of Macau in the 1991-1992 academic year. There are seven faculties - Business Administration, Law, Education, Science and Technology, Social and Human Sciences, Chinese and Portuguese. The university offers 25 undergraduate courses, 10 post-graduate courses, and 17 graduate courses.
The campus of the university is built on Taipa Island, with an area of 56,000 square metres. At present, local students comprise to more than 90% of all the students studying at the university. By the end of 1998, there are about 3300 students and more than 600 members of staff. The number of students are on increase.
Consultations regarding education reform for both general and tertiary education are currently under way, to reflect the developing situation.
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