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Service arrangements for the "i Learn at Home" Internet Learning Support Programme will be enhanced in the coming academic year to better meet the needs of service users and enhance effectiveness.
The five-year programme was launched in July 2011 to help eligible students undertake web-based learning at home.
Speaking at a press briefing today (August 21), the Government Chief Information Officer, Mr Daniel Lai, said the Government had completed a mid-term review on the programme after two years of implementation. In the coming three years the programme will continue to be operated by the two implementers, i.e. The Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong and WebOrganic, in the eastern and western parts of Hong Kong respectively.
The services provided for eligible families by the two implementers include:
* economical Internet access services;
* affordable computer equipment with flexible payment options;
* technical support;
* training for students;
* training for parents; and
* counselling services.
"Having regarded to the implementation experience in the past two years and feedback from service recipients, we have refined the service arrangements to better meet the needs of target beneficiaries and enhance the effectiveness of the programme," Mr Lai said.
These arrangements include:
(a) On the provision of computer and Internet access services, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) will co-ordinate the sourcing of Internet services and computer equipment made available for service recipients. It has invited suppliers to be service partners to provide special offers under the programme. The implementers will assist service recipients to select the products and services, and where necessary, provide options for payment by installments;
(b) The implementers will focus on providing hotline and technical support services to eligible families, and arrange limited on-site services on need-basis;
(c) The OGCIO will promote the programme to eligible families through the Student Financial Assistance Agency and the Social Welfare Department. It will also make use of other suitable channels to publicise the programme, including Education City, teacher and social worker organisations and others, so that all eligible families in need will know how to get timely support dedicated for their needs.
"We have listened to the views of service recipients and understand their hopes for more diversified Internet access services and computer equipment available at deeper discounts in the programme. We will be providing more than 20 kinds of computer products suitable for web-based learning for selection by eligible families, including desktop, notebook and tablet computers configured with different operating systems as well as printers, to cater for the learning needs of students at different levels," Mr Lai said.
"Compared to the present arrangement where the two implementers source discounted offers of computers and Internet services for reselling to service recipients in their respective service zones, the new arrangements will provide more diversified choices to benefit all eligible families throughout the territory.
"We will review and update the product offers with our service partners from time to time, with a view to providing the most suitable offers to meet the learning needs of students," Mr Lai added.
The programme will also strengthen technical support services, as such services are more difficult to locate and may be expensive at market prices.
For details of the programme, including the scope of services, computer products and Internet services available for service users, service zones and contact details of the two programme implementers, locations of service centres, eligibility and application procedures, please visit the dedicated website at www.ilearnathome.hk.
Ends/Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:59
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