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Hong Kong needed to capitalise on its strengths, better equipping its young people with broad-based knowledge, as well as lifelong learning attitude and skills to respond to an ever-changing world, the Secretary for Education, Mr Michael Suen, said in Singapore today (July 8).
Addressing guests at a dinner hosted by the Economic and Trade Office of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Suen spoke about Hong Kong's latest endeavours to nurture Hong Kong's homegrown talents.
Delivering a speech on "Nurturing Talents for New Opportunities", Mr Suen shared his insights of the vital role that governments had to play in preparing young people for the challenges they were likely to face.
He outlined the new initiatives that Hong Kong had taken on board recently in the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors, saying that Hong Kong would need determination and creativity to build on its foundations for a bright future for the city and the people.
Continuing his visit to Singapore, Mr Suen held a bilateral meeting with Singapore's Minister of Education Dr Ng Eng Hen. They discussed issues of mutual interest, in particular further development of education services and provision of these services to students, including those from overseas.
Earlier in the day, Mr Suen together with President of the Hong Kong Institute of Education Professor Anthony Cheung and Principal of Yan Oi Tong Tin Ka Bing Secondary School Mr Tai Hay-lap visited Nanyang Primary School where they were briefed on the school's efforts to cater for the needs of gifted students.
The school had classes for the Gifted Education Programme to develop intellectual rigour and humane values in gifted youths to prepare them for responsible and creative leadership in a changing world.
During a subsequent tour of the Bedok View Secondary School, Mr Suen saw how the school enhanced its teaching and learning through a closely knit learning circle of teachers. Students benefited from the teachers' quest for continuous improvements to their pedagogy.
In a meeting with the Economic Development Board in the evening, Mr Suen was briefed by its Executive Director, Human Capital, Mr Toh Wee Khiang, on the "Global Schoolhouse" initiative. The board is one of the key agencies in marketing and promoting Singapore education overseas.
"We have shared our experiences in the development of regional education hub and other education services," Mr Suen said.
Mr Suen will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (July 9).
Ends/Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Issued at HKT 22:08
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