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The Education Bureau (EDB) today (May 20) invited expression of interest for physical extension of secondary schools under implementation of New Senior Secondary (NSS) Curriculum. Three vacant school premises in Sha Tin would be available for application by eligible school sponsoring bodies of existing public sector and Direct Subsidy Scheme secondary schools.
"In implementing the NSS academic structure, some schools have faced physical constraints in identifying additional space within their school compound for providing a broad and balanced curriculum. In this light, three vacant school premises have been identified for allocation on a share-use basis in order to help existing secondary schools to overcome shortage of teaching space in their school premises and make optimal use of these premises for implementation of NSS", an EDB spokesman said.
"Government recognises that co-operation among schools in the provision of courses will benefit students with a wider choice of curriculum. While individual applicant bodies may express interest in applying for part of the premises on a share-use basis and indicate its preference, they are strongly encouraged to submit a joint proposal to put the available facilities of the premises to the fullest use. In recognition of the extra efforts spent by joint applications to work out a collaborated submission, priority will be accorded to a joint application when it is comparable with another application submitted by a single applicant school."
"The allocation of extension premises is intended to enhance the learning and teaching environment of schools for its existing student body, not for increasing the current or future enrolment capacity of schools. Allocation of premises is on a competitive basis and quality of education will be the prime consideration in assessing schools' applications. Factors to be considered include the operation track record of the applicant school, the quality of the proposed school plan for physical extension to enhance the teaching and learning for existing students, and the physical condition of the school's existing premises. While all things being comparable, priority will be given to applicant schools from within the same district as the school premises being allocated to facilitate day-to-day school operation."
"In order to optimise the use of available school premises and to avoid possible conflicts over the use of the facilities among shared-users, the Government reserves the right to decide on the facilities within the premises to be allocated to each worthwhile applicant in this exercise. Since the school premises will be allocated to more than one school, applicant schools being allocated with the same premises will be required to sign a tenancy agreement jointly and share joint management responsibilities if their applications become successful. To facilitate better operational management of the school premises in future, successful school (or at least one of the two schools under joint application) has to co-ordinate the management and maintenance of school premises", he added.
In line with the EDB's established policy for school allocation, the applicant body should be a charitable institution or trust of a public character exempted from tax under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance, and is:
(1) incorporated under the Companies Ordinance, with its memorandum and articles of association containing all the standard clauses and articles required for allocation of a school; or
(2) incorporated under other ordinances, with its constitution satisfying the Permanent Secretary for Education as being fit to be considered for allocation of a school.
After the close of the expression of interest exercise, we will invite those eligible school sponsoring bodies which have responded to the expression of interest exercise and fulfill the two established criteria to submit detailed school proposals. All applications will be considered by the School Allocation Committee comprising official and non-official members.
The reply form and other reference materials can be found at the EDB homepage (www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?nodeid=246&langno=1). Interested school sponsoring bodies are required to express interest by submitting the completed reply forms to the Infrastructure and Research Support Division (Room 1427, 14/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong) before 5pm on May 31, 2011. Enquiries can be made at 2892 5436 or 2892 6391.
Ends/Friday, May 20, 2011
Issued at HKT 20:23
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