***********************************************
The "Reform and Opening-up 30 Years Project Learning Award Scheme" organised by the Education Bureau (EDB) is now open to applications from primary and secondary school students.
The award scheme, which is an integral part of the bureau's educational activities to commemorate the 30th anniversary of reform and opening-up on the Mainland, aims to encourage students to learn and care about the development of the Mainland as well as the changes, opportunities and challenges to the country brought about by its reform and opening-up. The scheme also offers an opportunity for students to develop their self-learning abilities and creativity.
"Schools have come a long way in promoting project learning in recent years, and they have also spared no effort in promoting students' understanding of our country and to enhance their sense of national identity. The scheme is a golden opportunity to make the best out of the 30th anniversary of our country's reform and opening-up," a bureau spokesman said.
"We are confident that through participation in the award scheme, students can strengthen their self-learning abilities, understand more about our country and boost their national identity; as well as reflect on their own positions and roles during this historical time of change,' the spokesman said.
The Education Bureau will arrange a study tour to the Mainland for award scheme finalists to facilitate their understanding of the directions and achievements of reform and opening-up through firsthand experiences to broaden their horizons. Schools are encouraged to mobilise their students to grasp this opportunity and also use the activity as part of their overall curriculum planning.
Participants will take part in the award scheme at three separate levels - primary, junior secondary and senior secondary. The theme of the primary level is "The past and present of the homeland" for students to learn about the changes of the homeland in the past 30 years. The junior secondary level takes "Feelings and witnesses of Reform and Opening-up" as its theme. Students will explore the changes of people's livelihoods resulting from reform and opening-up. "Carrying forward the achievements of the past" is the theme for the senior secondary level where students will explore the development as well as the way forward of China in different aspects.
The scheme is open to application by students through their schools until June 30. Participating teams will submit their projects in October. For details of the award scheme, please visit the website: (www.edb.gov.hk/ReformOpeningUp).
Other highlights of the bureau's educational activities in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of reform and opening-up on the Mainland include 14 seminars, in which leading experts and academics are invited to deliver talks on the development of various aspects of the country under reform and opening-up, covering politics, society, livelihood, economy, science, technology, arts, education, culture and sports. Among the guest speakers are Chairman of the Panel on Pan-Pearl River Delta, Central Policy Unit, Prof Yeung Yue-man,; and Chair of Education, Faculty of Education of the University of Hong Kong Prof Cheng Kai-ming. The first four seminars were held in April. Please refer to the Annex for details of the remaining 10 seminars to be organised in May and June.¡@¡@
Details of other Education Bureau activities in connection with the 30th anniversary of reform and opening-up on the Mainland are also available from the website.
Ends/Friday, May 2, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:48
NNNN