Principal Investigator: Professor Tse Shek Kam  (Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong)
Co-Investigators: Dr. Lam Wai Ip, Dr. Loh Ka Yee and Dr. Cheung Wai Ming (Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong)

The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) provides an objective assessment of the reading attainment of Grade Four primary school students in countries worldwide. Organized by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), PIRLS assesses primary school students’ reading attainment, reading behaviour and attitudes towards literacy. The family, school and social factors affecting students’ reading ability are also examined. The research targets of the current cycle (PIRLS 2016) were Primary 4 students, their parents, teachers and school principals among 50 countries and within-state regions. There were approximately 319,000 students participating in the study globally and Hong Kong is one of the participating regions.

The Centre for Advancement of Chinese Language Education and Research (CACLER) of the Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), has been commissioned by the Education Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to participate in implementing the PIRLS research in Hong Kong for three consecutive cycles. We hereby invite representatives of the media to attend PIRLS 2016 International Report (Hong Kong Section) Press Conference and details are as follows:

Date:        December 6, 2017 (Wednesday)
Time:       10:00 am – 12:00 nn
Venue:    Lecture Theatre T4, 1/F, Meng Wah Complex, HKU, Pokfulam

The following features will be reported in the press conference:

1. Hong Kong students’ reading ability and its international ranking,
2. Comparison of Hong Kong students’ reading ability with other countries or regions,
3. Tracking the trends of Hong Kong students’ reading ability from 2001 to 2016,
4. Strengths and areas for improvement of Hong Kong students’ reading ability
5. Gender differences in the performance of Hong Kong Primary 4 students
6. Factors affecting Hong Kong students’ reading ability, including:
   
   - Hong Kong students’ reading interest, reading confidence and level of engagement in reading lessons
   - Hong Kong students’ family background and socio-economic status
   - Medium of instruction (Mandarin and Cantonese) in Chinese Language lessons
   - After-school tutoring

For media enquiries, please contact Professor Tse Shek Kam, CACLER, Faculty of Education, HKU (Tel: 3917 1960 / 3917 8294 / fax: 2517 4403 / email: sktse@hku.hk), Dr Ng Hung Wai, CACLER, Faculty of Education, HKU (Tel: 3917 5694 / fax: 2517 4403 / email: rexnghw@hku.hk), or Ms Emily Cheung, Senior Manager (Development and Communications), Faculty of Education, HKU (Tel: 3917 4270 / fax: 2517 0075 / email: emchy@hku.hk).