This study is the second phase of a long term evaluation exercise namely: An Evaluation of the 9-year Compulsory Education of Hong Kong. This research is planned to focus on the following areas to delineate the causes of students' learning problems which have not been addressed thoroughly and deeply enough during the first phase: A. the nature (selective vs. universal education) of the formal and instructional curriculum; B. teachers' knowledge and belief learned from teacher education institutions; C. classroom climate and students' cognitive and effective learning process.