Class size in Hong Kong has long been recognised as high compared with developed countries. The shrinking school population appears at last to offer Hong Kong an opportunity to address the problem and the Institute has been instrumental in raising public awareness of the importance of class size through a series of public debates and presentations. On 5 November 2003, Professor Maurice Galton, Associate Director of Research in Homerton College, Cambridge, gave a seminar entitled "Is Small Better? The Effect of Class Size on Pupil Performance."

Professor Galton reported the results of a large-scale UK research study which showed that small classes allowed teachers to give students more individual attention, ask more challenging questions, and better promote values. He emphasised that the value-added learning opportunities which reduced class sizes offer can be maximised when teachers are introduced to appropriate methodology. "Small classes and more effective teaching methodologies should be complementary rather than alternatives," said Professor Galton.

Professor Galton gave another lecture in December 2003 with the title "Increasing Opportunities for Learning in Small Classes" in which he identified the key characteristics of an effective small class as increased pupil participation, discourse and reflection.

Moving from the experiences in UK to the neighbouring countries in the East Asian Region, the Institute in February 2004 held a Regional Symposium on the theme "Policy and Practice of Small Class Teaching". Here education officials and scholars from Japan, Macau, Shanghai, South Korea and Taiwan shared their experiences and research findings with local educators.

Professor Maurice Galton