LCQ7: Earn and Learn Pilot Scheme
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     Following is a question by the Hon Kwok Wai-keung and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, in the Legislative Council today (October 29):

Question:

     Regarding the various types of programmes implemented under the Earn and Learn Pilot Scheme (Pilot Schemes) by the Vocational Training Council, i.e. (i) Diploma of Vocational Education (DVE) programmes for people with education level of Secondary 3 or above, (ii) DVE programmes for people with education level of Secondary 6 or above, (iii) Higher Diploma programmes for people with education level of Secondary 6 or above, and (iv) Foundation Diploma (Level 3) programmes for people with education level of Secondary 6 or above, will the Government inform this Council whether it knows the following statistics:

(1) the intakes of students under the Pilot Schemes in the 2014/15 school year (set out in Annex 1);

(2) the names and numbers of institutions providing on-the-job training for the student-workers of the Pilot Schemes in the 2014/15 school year (set out in Annex 2); and

(3) the numbers of on-the-job training places for the industries covered by the various programmes under the Pilot Schemes in the 2014/15 school year (set out in Annex 3)?

Reply:

President,

     The Chief Executive announced in the 2014 Policy Address that the Government would implement measures to strengthen vocational education, inter alia, the implementation of the Pilot Training and Support Scheme by the Vocational Training Council (VTC) to attract and retain talent for industries with a keen demand for labour by integrating structured apprenticeship training programmes with clear career progression pathways. The relevant trades covered under the industries concerned are very specialised and with a high level of technology contents. In addition, the Financial Secretary announced in the 2014-15 Budget Speech that the Government had accepted the recommendations of the Task Force on Manpower Development of the Retail Industry and earmarked $130 million to implement measures which aimed at alleviating the manpower tightening problems of the retail industry, including a pilot training and support scheme under the VTC for the retail industry. The two pilot schemes mentioned above are collectively known as the Earn and Learn Pilot Scheme (Pilot Scheme).

(1) In regard to the printing, clock and watch industries as well as the electrical and mechanical services trades under the construction industry, the Pilot Scheme targets Secondary 3 to Secondary 6 school leavers and eligible adult learners. Upon the completion of apprenticeship training under the Pilot Scheme, students can normally attain a Diploma in Vocational Education (DVE) (Level 3 of Qualifications Framework (QF)). As companies interested in participating in the Pilot Scheme will conduct interviews for prospective students in November and December 2014, the VTC is unable to provide the number of students admitted to the Pilot Scheme in the 2014/15 academic year at this stage.

     As to the retail industry, the Pilot Scheme targets Secondary 6 school leavers and a total of 226 student-workers are participating under the Pilot Scheme in the 2014/15 academic year. Student-workers who have successfully completed the 18-month programme will be awarded a Foundation Diploma (FD) (Level 3).

(2) Under the Pilot Scheme, trade associations will liaise and consolidate the requirements of individual companies in respective industries in order to facilitate its implementation. The names of trade associations concerned are shown in the following table:

Industry             Type of     Name of   
                     Programme   Institution
--------             ---------   -----------
Printing             DVE         Member companies Industry                         under the
                                 Hong Kong
                                 Printers
                                 Association

Clock and Watch      DVE         Member companies Industry                         under the
                                 Federation of
                                 Hong Kong
                                 Watch Trades and
                                 Industries Ltd.

Electrical and       DVE         Member companies
Mechanical Services              under the                 
Trades under the                 Hong Kong
Construction Industry            Federation of
                                 Electrical and
                                 Mechanical
                                 Contractors Ltd.

Retail Industry      FD          Member companies
                     (Level 3)   under the
                                 Hong Kong Retail
                                 Management
                                 Association

(3) Regarding the printing, clock and watch industries as well as the electrical and mechanical services trades under the construction industry, students under the Pilot Scheme are enrolled in a DVE programme (QF level 3). Core programme components at the basic level consist of professional skill training and all-round development for enhancing students' comprehensive competence necessary for adapting to social changes. Hence the training components cover much more than a particular specialised skill area. Other than the professional skill training, students will also receive training in problem-solving and communication skills. Since the programme is delivered in multi-modules, no breakdown of the enrolment figure by particular specialised skill is available.

     As to the retail industry, student-workers are enrolled in a FD programme (Level 3). In the 2014/15 academic year, the numbers of student-workers receiving on-the-job training in the following categories are set out as follows:

Category                         Number of student-
                                 workers
--------                         ------------------
Cosmetics                        11

Watch and jewellery              35

Fashion and accessories          70

Department stores                2

Electronic and electrical        20
appliances/telecommunications

Furniture and home accessories   10

Health and beauty chain stores   39

Supermarkets                     21

Convenience stores               18

Ends/Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:13

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