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Schools in the Final Phase of the School Improvement Programme (SIP) may appoint their own consultants to carry out school improvement works, the Director of Education, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said today (January 17).

"This new initiative provides flexibility to schools and represents an alternative means to deliver the SIP --- a programme to upgrade old schools and enable them to meet the requirements arising from the changes in curriculum and teaching methods," he said.

Schools used to rely on the Architectural Services Department for SIP works. Under the new option, schools may choose to employ their own consultants and top up the costs for other non-SIP works items with their own funds.

Mr Cheung said that the budget ceiling for SIP works would be set at 42 per cent of the construction cost of a new school of equivalent size. For example, the budget ceiling for a 30-classroom secondary school would be $42.97 million while that for a 30- classroom primary school would be $36.5 million.

The Public Works Sub-committee of the Legislative Council today endorsed a proposal to recommend to the Finance Committee the approval of $1,045.4million for engaging consultants to carry out site investigation and feasibility studies for 342 aided schools in the Final Phase of the SIP as well as $3,005.3million for the construction works for the 122 schools in Phase 4 of the SIP.

Schools in the Final Phase include 118 secondary, 184 primary and 40 special schools.

"For the Final Phase, we plan to appoint consultants in early April this year to carry out the feasibility studies, detailed design, contract documentation and associated project management work," Mr Cheung said.

"Depending on the complexity of each project, we expect that the first of the feasibility studies will be completed by the end of 2001 and all the studies by the end of 2002."

"Actual construction works will be staggered over time and it is anticipated that the earliest commencement date will be around mid-2002."

"To enhance communication and for better work efficiency, a quadrilateral meeting comprising representatives from the schools, the consultants, the Architectural Services Department and the ED will be set up for each and every SIP project in Phase 4 and the Final Phase of the SIP," he said.

In addition, a high level Task Force chaired by the Director of Education has been established to streamline interdepartmental arrangements and approval procedures.

"We have also formed a dedicated team within the department to look after the SIP programme. It is the Government's aim to complete all SIP projects by the 2004/05 school year," Mr Cheung said.

Briefing sessions on this new initiative will be organised for schools and the relevant school sponsoring bodies tomorrow (January 18) and on January 20.

End/ Wednesday, January 17, 2001

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