*********************************************************

Project Springboard provides a bridging programme for Secondary Five leavers and adult learners to acquire a qualification which is comparable in standards to five passes in Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (HKCEE)for continuing education purpose.

At a roving exhibition on the Project Springboard which began today ( August 16), Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Philip Chok explained the path of continuing education for students under the programme.

"Geared to training practical skills and their application in real-life situations, courses offered under the Project Springboard will not follow the HKCEE syllabus. Satisfactory completion of Project Springboard courses will not therefore lead to Secondary Six and university degrees in the traditional stream," Mr Chok said.

"Instead, students awarded with the Project Springboard certificate will be able to pursue further studies along the continuing education stream. The 10 member institutes of the Federation for Continuing Education in Tertiary Institutions have agreed to mutually recognise Project Springboard qualification for the purpose of enrolling for the more advanced courses leading to certificates, diplomas and higher diplomas in continuing education," he added.

"It will be possible for students of the Project Springboard to advance to degree levels offered under the continuing education stream. Depending on individual efforts, this process can take as little as five or six years to achieve.

"Meanwhile, students may opt to study part-time and work at the same time, as most continuing education programmes are geared to the part-time study mode," he noted.

The series of roving exhibitions for the Project Springboard will be held consecutively in eight different venues until September 8, just before the deadline for enrolment in Project Springboard courses on September 9. The venues and time-table are as follows:

16/8 - 18/8 Metroplaza, Kwai Fong

19/8 - 20-8 Wo Che Shopping Centre, Sha Tin

21/8 - 22/8 Cityplaza, Tai Koo Shing

23/8 - 24/8 Uptown Plaza, Tai Po

25/8 - 27/8 Plaza Hollywood, Diamond Hill

31/8 - 1/9 East Point City, Tseung Kwan O

4/9 - 6/9 Tuen Mun Town Hall, Tuen Mun

7/9 - 8/9 Dragon Centre, Sham Shui Po

The Education and Manpower Bureau operates a hotline (2810 3445) to answer enquiries on the Project Springboard.

End/Wednesday, August 16, 2000

NNNN