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LCQ15: Funding scheme for workplace English training

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Following is a question by the Hon Ambrose Lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Professor Arthur K C Li, in the Legislative Council today (May 19):

Question :

Regarding Workplace English Training, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the total number of applications received since the launching of the Funding Scheme for Workplace English Training in 2000; among these applications, the number of those approved and the total amount of grants involved;

(b) whether it has collected feedback from various sectors on the effectiveness of the Scheme; if so, of the feedback collected and the criteria adopted by the authorities for assessing the effectiveness of the Scheme;

(c) as the Scheme will cease receiving applications from individual employees or from companies on behalf of their employees for grants to attend English training courses offered in the market with effect from 1 January 2005 or until all the remaining funds have been earmarked for the applications, whichever occurs earlier, whether the authorities have plans to extend the above application deadline; if not, whether they will introduce a new funding scheme to replace the one in question; and

(d) of the plans to raise the English standard of the employees in tourism and retail industries?

Reply :

Madam President,

(a) As at end April 2004, the Funding Scheme for Workplace English Training has received about 49,500 applications. Discounting those duplicated, drop-out and withdrawn applications, there are around 22,300 applications. Of these, more than 17,000 applicants have already completed their training courses and attained their relevant benchmarks. The amount of grants reimbursed was around $29 million. Another 3,500 applicants are still undergoing their English training, and $8.2 million of fund has been earmarked for their applications. The remaining applications are still under processing.

(b) At the end of 2000, Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong was engaged to conduct a survey to measure the effectiveness of the Funding Scheme. The findings show that over 80% of the respondents found the Funding Scheme helpful in their study of English training courses. Over the past four years, the Funding Scheme has received 1,245 Company Applications, involving a total of 12,500 employees. These organizations are enterprises of different scales from various industries, such as Banking and Finance, Insurance, Retailing, Catering, Public Utilities, Transport, Hotel and Tourism, Communications and Information Technology, etc. This shows that the Funding Scheme has been well received by the industries. The Government considers the Funding Scheme successful based on the total number of over 17,000 applicants who have attained the benchmarks and obtained grants from the Funding Scheme in the past four years.

(c) The Funding Scheme for Workplace English Training will stop receiving applications made by individual employees or by companies on behalf of their employees for grants to attend English training courses offered in the market from January 1, 2005 or until all the remaining funds have been earmarked for applications, whichever is earlier. Subject to the availability of funds allocated to the Funding Scheme and any future review by the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research, the Funding Scheme will continue to accept applications from companies that wish to commission course providers to organize in-house English training courses for their employees in 2005 and after. The $5 billion Continuing Education Fund (CEF) launched by the Government in June 2002 is also providing subsidies for English training. Eligible adults aged from 18 to 60 who attend recognised English training courses under the CEF may apply for a maximum subsidy of $10,000, regardless of their employment status. The changes to the Funding Scheme for Workplace English Training will not deprive working adults of their chance to obtain subsidies for English training.

(d) The Workplace English Campaign will continue to promote the importance of workplace English and from 2004 onwards, the promotion of the Campaign will focus more on encouraging employers to adopt the Hong Kong Workplace English Benchmarks. A detailed framework of promotion activities is still under planning. Besides, people who wish to improve their English standards may continue to obtain subsidies from CEF to attend English training courses. The Workplace English Campaign will continue to apply across a broad range of enterprises and industries, including those tourism and retail sectors.

Ends/Wednesday, May 19, 2004

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