SED attends Education World Forum in UK (with photos)
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He participated in the opening session and keynote sessions of the Forum to join education ministers, including the new Secretary of State for Education of the UK, Mr Damian Hinds, and policy advisers representing over 80 per cent of the world's population to deliberate on future education policy.
Mr Yeung met with the President of the Asia Society, Ms Josette Sheeran, previously the Vice Chairman of the World Economic Forum, to exchange views on "global competencies" in a globalised world.
He also held bilateral meetings with the Minister of Education of Thailand, Mr Teerakiat Jareonsettasin, and the Deputy Union Minister of Education of Myanmar, Mr Win Maw Tun, to follow up on the implementation of the Belt and Road Scholarship and the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding on education co-operation respectively.
Besides attending the Forum, Mr Yeung called on the British Council and met with its Chief Executive, Sir Ciarán Devane. He thanked the Council for its long-standing support in promoting an English-learning culture among teachers and students in Hong Kong.
Mr Yeung also met with the Chief Executive of the Chartered College of Teaching, Professor Dame Alison Peacock, to learn more about the ways that the College, newly set up in 2017, promotes the continuous professional development of teachers and raises the status of the profession.
Mr Yeung said that the Education Bureau attaches great importance to the continuous professional development of teachers. New measures include the 'i-Journey' Paid Non-local Study Leave Scheme for Secondary School Teachers. This year, three groups of teachers will go to the UK, Finland and Australia to take customised programmes on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education, interdisciplinary learning and entrepreneurship education, and catering for students with special educational needs respectively.
In addition, the Government has also made a commitment of non-recurrent funding of $500 million to provide an annual disbursement of around $50 million from the 2018/19 school year for implementing various measures to enhance the professional development of teachers and principals.
Several months ago, the Education Bureau set up a task force to conduct a comprehensive review of the professional development of teachers. Mr Yeung said he looked forward to receiving the task force's recommendations by the end of this year for promoting the long-term development of the teaching profession.
The EWF will continue today (January 23, London time) and Mr Yeung will speak at one of the keynote sessions.
Ends/Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Issued at HKT 12:43
Issued at HKT 12:43
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