EDB provides more relief grants to affected sectors
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The Education Bureau (EDB) today (April 21) issued a circular memorandum to all private schools offering non-formal curriculum (PSNFCs) (commonly called "tutorial schools") inviting them to apply for a relief grant under the Anti-epidemic Fund.
A spokesman for the EDB said that a total of about $120 million has been allocated from the Anti-epidemic Fund to provide a one-off relief grant of $40,000 to each PSNFC registered under the Education Ordinance being in operation in the three months immediately before class suspension (i.e. November and December 2019 and January 2020) and in operation as at the date of application. Designated centres under the Financial Assistance Scheme for Designated Evening Adult Education Courses (FAEAEC), which offer evening secondary school courses for adult learners, are also eligible for the grant.
"The measure is expected to benefit about 3 000 PSNFCs. The relief grant will generally be disbursed about four weeks upon receipt of an application," the spokesman said.
In addition, the Anti-epidemic Fund will also provide relief grants to school-related service providers who have been affected by the prolonged class suspension, incurring an expenditure of about $419 million. Details are as follows:
(i) Operators of catering outlets (namely tuck shops, canteens and restaurants) at primary schools, secondary schools and post-secondary institutions: a one-off relief grant of $80,000 to each outlet
(ii) Lunchbox providers of primary and secondary schools: a one-off relief grant of $10,000 per school each provider is serving
(iii) School bus drivers, school private light bus drivers and escorts (commonly called “nannies”) : a one-off relief grant of $10,000 for each driver and $10,000 per vehicle for escorts
(iv) Instructors, coaches, trainers and operators of interest classes engaged by schools: a one-off relief grant of $7,500 to each operator/service provider
The EDB will distribute application forms for the relief grant through the post-secondary institutions to the catering outlets operated on their campuses within this week. The application details for other relief grants will be announced as soon as possible.
In addition, the EDB announced earlier that it would deploy existing resources to provide a one-off relief grant of $ 80,000 to each private school offering full and formal curriculum. The grant has been disbursed progressively to schools under the English Schools Foundation, international schools, private independent schools and other private secondary day schools and private primary schools.
Ends/Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Issued at HKT 23:00
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