The Quality Education Fund (QEF) Steering Committee of the Education Commission (EC) has agreed on the scope and initial operational programme of the Fund.
The chairman of the QEF Steering Committee, Mr Irving Koo Yee-yin said after a meeting today (Wednesday): "We believe that the Fund should support worthwhile initiatives, on a one-off basis, directed towards improving the quality of basic education. Projects should preferably be school-based, innovative, and have the potential for wider application in the school sector."
"We welcome, in particular, projects promoting the quality of teaching and learning in schools; projects that promote all-round education; projects promoting school-based management; and educational researches."
"Call for applications will be made twice a year, with the first call to commence in the first week of March, when the QEF is officially launched," he said.
"There will be briefings and publicity on the operational details of the Fund," Mr Koo added.
Through monitoring and evaluation of funded projects, Mr Koo said the QEF Steering Committee would work in conjunction with project leaders to identify best practices for dissemination.
"We hope to mobilise the participation of students, teachers, principals, teacher trainers, educational experts in furthering the development of quality education," he said.
In parallel, the Steering Committee has decided to set up a Task Group to develop award schemes for outstanding teachers and schools. The school sector will be consulted on the design and criteria for the award schemes.
"Awarding excellence in the performance of schools will disseminate good practices and promote healthy competition among schools."
"The awards for teaching excellence will also raise the social esteem and professional status of the teaching profession," Mr Koo said.
The QEF Steering Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Government on the custody and use of the QEF and to oversee the on-going operation of the QEF. It also makes recommendations to the EC on the strategies for making use of the QEF and for disseminating best practices and experience gained from the QEF-funded projects, and on relevant researches and studies undertaken by the EC.
The Steering Committee, chaired by a non-official EC member, comprises eight non-official members representing the school sector, professionals, and the business community, and two ex-officio members.
Meanwhile, a QEF Investment Committee has been set up alongside the Steering Committee to set policies for and to monitor the investment of the Fund. The Investment Committee has agreed on an investment strategy that is prudent but able to generate sufficient recurrent income for the Fund.
Chaired by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, members of the Investment Committee comprise the Chairman of the QEF Steering Committee, the Director of Education and the Director of Accounting Services.
Details of the first call for applications will be announced shortly.
End/Wednesday, February 11, 1998