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The following is issued on behalf of the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR):
To encourage the full and systematic implementation of using Putonghua to teach Chinese in schools, the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR) will launch a support scheme to assist schools which are determined to implement using Putonghua to teach Chinese through on-site support by mainland experts and local consultants.
A spokeswoman for SCOLAR said today (January 3), "There are demands from a number of schools for professional assistance in implementing the full use of Putonghua to teach Chinese Language subject. In view of such demands, SCOLAR decided to provide more intensive support to schools to begin implementation."
The support scheme will be carried out in four phases, providing support to 30 primary schools and 10 secondary schools in each phase. A total of 160 schools will benefit.
Each participating school will receive support for three years, including on-site visits by mainland professionals and local consultants in the first year to assist the formulation of school-based programme of using Putonghua to teach Chinese. Local consultants will continue to provide sustained support in subsequent years.
"The first phase for the 2008-09 school year is now open for application by schools which are ready to fully use Putonghua to teach Chinese," the spokeswoman said.
"Schools must submit in their application their plan of increasing the total number of classes and forms using Putonghua to teach Chinese progressively and how this is to be done during the three-year period. They also need to state their long-term goal and the strategies and resources planning for achieving this goal."
"The vetting committee for applications will consider schools' proposals and the information contained therein for determining the list of schools joining the first-phase of the support scheme. Schools that are not yet ready for a full and systematic implementation of using Putonghua to teach Chinese at this stage may consider applying in later phases," she said.
In addition to SCOLAR's support scheme, the Education Bureau's Language Learning Support Section (LLSS) also provides support to schools in the teaching of the Chinese Language subject, including the use of Putonghua to teach Chinese. For schools that wish to teach Chinese in Putonghua in only some of the classes/forms, they may apply for the LLSS support.
To give schools a better understanding of the support scheme, briefing sessions will be held on February 2. Schools are invited to enrol on a first-come-first-served basis.
Details of SCOLAR's support scheme for the use of Putonghua to teach Chinese and the briefing session have been mailed to schools and uploaded onto SCOLAR website at http://www.language-education.com. For enquiries, please contact the SCOLAR Support Unit (Tel: 3165 1185 or email: pcssu4@edb.gov.hk).
Established in 1996, SCOLAR advises the Government on language education issues and on the use of the Language Fund.
Ends/Thursday, January 3, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:01
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