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The Secretary for Education, Mr Michael Suen, will pay an official visit to Helsinki in Finland, and Oslo in Norway, from May 4 to May 10.
Mr Suen will meet ministers responsible for the education portfolio in both countries and learn how English is being taught most effectively as a second language in schools in these two northern European countries.
In Finland, Mr Suen will meet Minister of Education and Science, Ms Sari Sarkomaa, to share views on educational matters, in particular the success of the Finnish education system and policy.
Noting that Finnish students were high achievers in both PISA 2003 and 2006, Mr Suen will visit schools of basic education and tertiary institutions in Helsinki to observe the school life of Finnish students and the teaching and learning of English in Finnish schools.
During his stay in Norway, Mr Suen will meet Minister of Research and Higher Education, Ms Tora Aasland, and visit the University of Oslo and a folk high school.
Folk high schools are one-year boarding schools based on the idea of learning for life. They have different courses from the regular education system in Norway, such as theatre, music and media.
Mr Suen will also have a meeting with the Standing Committee on Education, Research and Church Affairs of the Storting, the Norwegian Parliament, to exchange views on various education issues.
At receptions organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (London) in the two countries, Mr Suen will meet community leaders in both countries and will speak on ways to nurture talent in a globalised world.
Accompanying Mr Suen to visit Finland and Norway will be the Deputy Secretary for Education, Ms Bernadette Linn.
Ends/Thursday, May 1, 2008
Issued at HKT 14:00
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