The following is issued on behalf of the Education Commission:

The Chairman of the Education Commission, Mr Tim Lui, today (January 18) welcomed the education initiatives announced in the Chief Executive’s 2017 Policy Address.

Mr Lui said, “As the Chairman of the Education Commission, I welcome the Government’s continued investment in education to nurture our talents and promote the sustainable development of Hong Kong.

“I am very glad that starting from the 2017/18 school year, the Government will implement the free quality kindergarten education policy with a view to greatly enhancing the quality of kindergarten education. For primary and secondary education, the Government will provide the Learning Support Grant for public sector ordinary primary and secondary schools to enhance support for students with mental illness. Regarding teachers’ training, the Government will implement a paid non-local study leave scheme on a pilot basis for serving secondary school teachers to broaden their perspectives. To promote Chinese history and traditional Chinese culture, the Government will strengthen teachers’ professional development and provide a one-off grant of about $125 million to support teaching efforts in this respect. In striving to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, the Government will provide each public sector secondary school with an additional one-off subsidy of $200,000 to facilitate the implementation of school-based programmes related to STEM education.

“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 in Hong Kong.”

Mr Lui added, “I am also pleased to learn that for post-secondary education, the Government will regularise the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors with a view to nurturing talent to meet Hong Kong’s social and economic needs. In addition, the Government will launch the seventh Matching Grant Scheme and request the universities to conduct more research projects that meet the needs of the development of Hong Kong and are impactful and translational, so as to tie in with the work to promote the development of industries and re-industrialisation.”

Ends/Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Issued at HKT 18:50