******************************************

    Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Man-kwong and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Professor Arthur K C Li, in the Legislative Council today (June 29):

Question:

Regarding the specialised teaching grant to be released by the Education and Manpower Bureau from the 2005-06 school year, will the Government inform this Council of:

(a) the number of schools eligible for the grant and, among them, the number of those which have applied for it;

(b) the deadline for processing the applications of the grant; and

(c) the present position regarding the processing of such applications, including the respective numbers of schools whose applications have been approved, are being processed or have been rejected, with detailed reasons for their rejection?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) Among the 421 eligible aided primary schools, 414 applied for Specialised Teaching Support Grant for the 2005/06 school year.

(b) & (c) The deadline for the application of the Grant for the 2005/06 school year was May 5, 2005. As at June 28, EMB has given approval to 407 schools which have confirmed readiness to implement specialised teaching. EMB has also contacted the remaining schools on matters pertaining to this improvement initiative, and will give as much time as it is necessary for them to consider their staff deployment and readiness to join the scheme.

Ends/Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Issued at HKT 14:31

NNNN