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Second phase of e-Textbook Market Development Scheme launched
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     The Education Bureau (EDB) today (August 2) launched the second phase of the e-Textbook Market Development Scheme (EMADS), having regard to the recommendations of the Steering Committee on Selection, Quality Assurance and Review of EMADS and the achievements and positive feedback received from stakeholders in the implementation of the Scheme.

     A spokesman for the EDB said some refinements would be introduced in the second phase although the main features of the Scheme would remain unchanged. The application period for the second phase will be from August 2 to November 1, 2013. The application form and the guide to application can be downloaded from the EMADS website (www.edb.gov.hk/EMADS/Application).

     "We will launch the second phase of EMADS with a view to covering more subjects (especially those without any approved application in the first phase such as Science, Chinese History and Computer Literacy) and drawing in more potential players. In addition to all the subjects of Key Stages 1 to 3, the second phase of the Scheme will also cover some subjects at Key Stage 4 including English Language, History, Geography, Physics, Biology and Chemistry.

     "There will also be no limit on the number of applications for non-major subjects (subjects other than English Language, Chinese Language and Mathematics) submitted by a single applicant in order to encourage the development of e-textbooks on non-major subjects. For major subjects, each applicant can submit at most four applications," the spokesman said.

     "The second phase of EMADS will still accept applications from both non-profit-making (NPM) organisations and other organisations. NPM applicants can apply for a seeding grant which will be provided on a 50:50 matching basis, subject to a cap of $4 million per e-textbook set or 50 per cent of the development cost of the e-textbook set concerned, whichever is the lesser. All applications will be subjected to a quality assurance mechanism to ensure the quality of e-textbooks so developed, including the try-out of e-textbooks in stages during the development process in an authentic classroom setting at Partner Schools," he added.

     The EMADS was launched in June 2012 to facilitate the development of a new e-textbook market and draw up progressively a full-fledged Recommended Textbook List applicable to e-textbooks. The Finance Committee of the Legislative Council has approved $50 million to provide a seeding grant to support development of e-textbooks by non-profit-making applicants under the Scheme.

     A Steering Committee on the Selection, Quality Assurance and Review of EMADS has been formed to oversee the implementation of the Scheme. The Steering Committee is chaired by the Deputy Secretary for Education (Curriculum and Quality Assurance) and includes experienced school principals and teachers, representatives of the Consumer Council, parents and Hong Kong Education City Limited as well as representatives from the business and the information technology sectors.

     To provide more information to potential and aspiring e-textbook developers who are interested to join the Scheme, the EDB will hold a briefing on the application process and requirements on August 13.

     The briefing, to be conducted in Cantonese, will be held from 2.30pm to 4.30pm at the School Hall of C.C.C. Heep Woh Primary School (Cheung Sha Wan), 1/F, 18 Tonkin Street, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon. Seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Details of the briefing and registration procedures are available on the EMADS website (www.edb.gov.hk/EMADS).

Ends/Friday, August 2, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:05

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