The Quality Education Fund (QEF)Steering Committee will launch the first call for applications on March 5 at a ceremony to be officiated by the Chief Secretary for Administration.
The Chairman of the QEF Steering Committee, Mr Irving Koo Yee-yin, said after a meeting today (Monday): "Heads of nurseries, kindergartens, primary, secondary and special schools have been invited to attend the launching ceremony.
"We also expect academics in tertiary institutions, and representatives of school sponsoring bodies and teachers unions to join us at the ceremony," said Mr Koo.
Immediately following the launching ceremony, there will be seminars on quality education at different levels of basic education. Guest speakers for these seminars are Professor Cheng Kai-ming, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong; Professor Chung Yu-ping, Dean of Education, Chinese University of Hong Kong; and Professor Cheng Yin-cheong, Director of Centre for Research and Development, Hong Kong Institute of Education.
"We hope the speeches by the educational experts will elicit constructive exchanges of views among the audience on the subject of quality education. Following the seminars, Members of the Steering Committee will be chairing open forums during which participants are welcome to raise questions on the operational aspects of the QEF," added Mr Koo.
Between March 5 and April 30, schools, education bodies, teaching professionals are invited to submit applications to the QEF for funding to undertake innovative school-based projects to promote quality education. The QEF Steering Committee expects to release the first batch of grants in June.
"The success of establishing a quality education culture in Hong Kong hinges on the support of our front-line educators. The launching of the QEF is thus an event for all key players in the education sector, we hope they will actively participate in the open forums and the on-going process of providing better education to our younger generation," said Mr Koo.
The QEF Launching Ceremony will be held at 10 am on March 5 (Thursday) in the Convention Hall, second floor, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. The guest of honour is Mrs Anson Chan, Chief Secretary for Administration. Other guests include Mr Joseph W P Wong, Secretary for Education and Manpower; Professor Rosie Young, Chairman of the Education Commission; and Mrs Helen C P Lai Yu, Director of Education.
End/Monday, March 2, 1998