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The Internet Learning Support Programme will be officially launched on July 14 to assist needy students to make effective use of the Internet for online learning. Preparatory work has now entered the final stage as a dedicated portal together with new branding for the programme went live today (June 27).
The programme is a five-year initiative to help low-income families acquire economical Internet services and computer equipment, and to provide them with user and social support.
The brand name "i Learn at home" represents the objective of the programme, i.e. to enable students in every household to learn at home via "iLearning".
The portal (www.ilearnathome.hk) provides information on the programme, including the scope of services, the service zones and contact details of the two programme implementers, locations of service centres, eligibility and application procedures.
Speaking at a media briefing today, the Government Chief Information Officer, Mr Stephen Mak, said, "Web-based learning has become an integral part of education and a way of life for students. The Government recognises the importance of providing suitable Internet learning opportunities for students in need in order to mitigate the impact of the digital divide on the quality of learning.
"The programme facilitates access to information technology and the Internet, and the associated educational opportunity," he said.
The target beneficiaries of the programme are primary and secondary full-time students from families who are receiving the Internet Access Subsidy under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance scheme or through the Student Financial Assistance Agency. It is estimated that 410 000 students from 300 000 families are eligible in the 2011-12 school year, and an additional 112 000 students from 82 000 families will be eligible in the following four years.
The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) has engaged two non-profit organisations - eInclusion Foundation Ltd (using the brand name "Net-Com rock n' roll") and Internet Learning Resource Centre Ltd (using the brand name "WebOrganic") - to implement the programme in two separate geographical zones in Hong Kong. The service zones of the two implementers are as follows:
eInclusion Foundation Ltd (brand name "Net-Com rock n' roll"):
Service Zone East - Eastern, Kowloon City, Kwun Tong, North, Sai Kung, Sha Tin, Tai Po and Wong Tai Sin
Internet Learning Resource Centre Ltd (brand name "WebOrganic"):
Service Zone West - Central and Western, Islands, Kwai Tsing, Sham Shui Po, Southern, Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun, Wan Chai, Yau Tsim Mong and Yuen Long
The two implementers will set up service centres in their respective zones to provide the following services:
* economical Internet access services;
* affordable computer equipment with flexible payment options;
* technical support through hotlines and help desks;
* training for students;
* training for parents; and
* group-based and one-on-one advisory services.
The implementers are each required to provide a minimum of 360 training sessions to eligible families and students in the next 18 months. "During this period, we expect that no less than 72 000 registered families would receive services from the programme and at least 85 per cent of families having no access to the Internet at the time of registration would set up Internet connections at home after joining the programme," Mr Mak added.
The implementers will announce shortly details of the services and offers they will provide. Enrolment forms will be distributed through the Students Financial Assistance Agency, the Social Welfare Department and schools, and can be downloaded from the programme portal at www.ilearnathome.hk. Eligible families should register with their responsible implementer by visiting the service centres starting from July 14, or by returning a completed enrolment form to the OGCIO.
The OGCIO will monitor the implementation arrangements through a programme steering committee led by the Government Chief Information Officer and quarterly operational and financial reports from the implementers. The OGCIO will also update the Legislative Council Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting of progress regularly.
Ends/Monday, June 27, 2011
Issued at HKT 11:52
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