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The following is issued on behalf of the Education Commission:
The Chairman of the Education Commission, Mr Tim Lui, today (January 13) welcomed the education initiatives announced in the Chief Executive's 2016 Policy Address.
"As the Chairman of the Education Commission, I share the view that nurturing talent, which starts with education, is essential for Hong Kong's development as a knowledge-based economy and for its ability to meet the challenges of an ageing population.
"I am very glad that starting from the 2017/18 school year, the Government will implement the free quality kindergarten education policy and provide kindergartens with direct subsidy with a view to greatly enhancing the quality of kindergarten education and laying a solid foundation for children's balanced development and lifelong learning. For primary and secondary education, the Gifted Education Fund will help nurture exceptionally gifted primary and secondary students aged between 10 and 18, while school-based gifted education progammes will continue to be implemented. To further stabilise the teaching force and inject new blood to enhance the quality of the teaching profession, the Government will extend the retention period of surplus teachers arising from the reduction of Secondary One classes until the end of the 2017/18 school year on a need basis and allow schools to turn the Senior Secondary Curriculum Support Grant and Career and Life Planning Grant into regular teaching posts," Mr Lui said.
"I am also pleased to note that in line with the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Government will implement new measures, increase the number of offers under the Targeted Scholarship Scheme to encourage students from regions along the 'Belt and Road' to strengthen communication with post-secondary students in Hong Kong.
"I believe that the Education Bureau will be working closely with the stakeholders in implementing the education initiatives. The Education Commission will also contribute its advice with a view to enhancing the quality of education and nurturing talent to provide the impetus for the continued social and economic development of Hong Kong," he added.
Ends/Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:56
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