The demand and supply of teachers and the standard class size will be reviewed in 2011-12 to devise long-term feasible measures for the 2012-13 school year and beyond, taking into account the new senior secondary structure's implementation, the Education Bureau says.

The bureau met with representatives from secondary school councils today to exchange views on issues including the impact of the declining student population in secondary school in the coming years.

To relieve the school sector from pressure arising from the declining student population, effective measures went into effect last year, including capping enrolment at 40 students per secondary class and the introduction of five-year transitional arrangements for surplus teachers under the new senior secondary structure.

The bureau will explore measures to help stabilise school development, and work out short or mid-term relief measures for the coming three to four years.

In considering different options, the bureau will consider the demand for teachers under the new senior secondary structure and the supply and demand of secondary school places in various districts.

It will also review the relevant requirements during the double cohort year of 2011-12 - when secondary seven students under the existing system and senior secondary three students under the new senior secondary structure co-exist.

As the secondary school places allocation exercise for students entering secondary one in September has already started, it will not be desirable to adjust the number of students to be allocated to each secondary one class this year as this might upset parents' plans in making school choices.