Waving not drowning: The case for Compensatory Based Instruction

Four recent HKIEd research projects, to be reported here, show that lower-achieving students who are now finding places in HK's Territory education require nofremedial" English but compensatory based instruction. CBI course grew from the American experience of promoting minority opportunities within the US teritory education system. There, incoming"minority" students-those disadvantaged within the Secondary and Primary education systems-were found to be"drowing" when placed in traditionaF'remedial" class. This experience resonates throughout HK's"remedial" English course culminating in calls for even more innovative, motivational teaching within the framework of traditionaP'remedial" classes. CBI's embrace a fresh perspective and profile of students marginalised by current practice in the Secondary school system. A CBI is currently offered at the HKIEd and will be examined here to show in practical terms, students waving not drowning in the sea of Tertiary education.