Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
To maintain a healthy physique, you need to exercise regularly! Parents just need to put in some effort, and they can do simple physical games with their children at home. This not only promotes parent-child relationships, but also helps train the children’s limb coordination. Immediately watch the video and try the [Parent-child Physical Games – Cross the River] at home!
[embedded content]
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ19: Parent education
Question:
There are views that, in comparison with school education, family education is equally or even more important for the learning and growth of school children, but not every parent knows how to properly and effectively teach their children. In addition, it is learnt that while at present the Government relies primarily on the Education Bureau (EDB) to promote parent education, and EDB has adopted the approach of regarding “schools as a primary platform and the community as a complementary” in implementing parent education, schools differ in terms of motivation, effectiveness and content focus in the promotion of parent education. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the policy measures introduced and amount of resources allocated by the Government in recent years for the promotion of parent education; among such policy measures, of the respective numbers of those implemented through schools, other non-school organisations, and directly by government departments;
(2) regarding the implementation of parent education by primary and secondary schools, how the authorities monitor the relevant quantity, quality, and effectiveness;
(3) whether it has compiled statistics on the participation rates in parent education provided by primary and secondary schools across the territory, and the number of parents of school-age students who have never taken part in any parent education in the past five years; of its plans in place to increase the participation rates of such parents;
(4) apart from written circulars and the Parents’ Day normally held once every academic year, whether the Government will encourage schools to maintain communication and contact with parents through more frequent and diversified modes in respect of the learning and growth of students, including making good use of communication technologies such as video conferencing; and
(5) as it is learnt that some primary and secondary schools have provided national security education to parents through talks and other means in recent years, of the number of such activities and the participation rates of parents; whether the Government will further step up the relevant work, including enhancing the contents, frequencies and participation rates of such activities, as well as providing more assistance to schools and related organisations, so as to raise parents’ sense of national identity and awareness of patriotism?
Reply:
President,
Parents are the pivotal figures in nurturing, safeguarding and educating children, playing crucial roles in supporting children’s development and learning as well as fostering their proper values, positive attitude and behaviour. Therefore, the Government has long been promoting parent education through the Education Bureau (EDB) and other government bureaux.
Having consulted the Health Bureau, the consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Tony Tse is as follows:
(1) The EDB has all along been adopting the approaches of “parent-based” and “schools as a primary platform and the community as a complementary” to promote parent education through diversified means. To enable parents to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills for nurturing their children in a more systematic manner, the EDB commissioned a post-secondary institution to develop the curriculum frameworks on parent education for parents of students at different learning stages. The EDB introduced the Curriculum Frameworks on Parent Education for kindergarten (KG), primary school and secondary school in 2021, 2022 and May 2024 respectively (collaboratively named as the “Curriculum Frameworks”). All the Curriculum Frameworks have been uploaded onto the EDB’s website for schools’ and relevant organisations’ reference.
At school level, the EDB provided KGs joining the Kindergarten Education Scheme with an additional one-off subsidy of $90,000 to $100,000 in the 2021/22 school year, and a one-off grant on parent education of $200,000 for all publicly-funded primary and secondary schools in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 school years respectively to support schools to embark on structured school-based parent education programmes or activities having regard to the Curriculum Frameworks and the needs of parents and students. Besides, all public-sector schools have set up Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), and the Committee on Home-School Co-operation has been assisting the Government in providing the “Subsidy for Home-School Co-operation Activities” and the “Subsidy for Joint Home-School Co-operation Project” for PTAs, encouraging PTAs to organise diversified school-based home-school co-operation and parent education activities or programmes with reference to the Curriculum Frameworks. To further enhance the support for schools, starting from the 2023/24 school year, the EDB has developed resource packages for primary and secondary schools based on the Curriculum Frameworks in phases to facilitate teachers, social workers and guidance personnel of schools in mastering the relevant knowledge and skills.
At territory level, starting from the 2022/23 school year, the EDB has commissioned post-secondary institutions and non-governmental organisations to organise territory-wide or district-based parent education courses and talks for parents and grandparents of KG and primary students with reference to the Curriculum Frameworks, and produce electronic learning resources to facilitate parents’ self-learning. The EDB has also been implementing the territory-wide Positive Parent Campaign (the Campaign) since 2020 to promote parent education through extensive and diversified channels, with a view to fostering positive thinking, strategies and attitudes in nurturing children among parents. In recent years, we have organised various parent education activities and produced a theme song for the Campaign, Announcements in the Public Interest on television and radio as well as animations and short videos on parent education to further enhance public awareness on positive parent education. We have also reached out to parents of different backgrounds in the communities to promote the messages of positive parenting through a moving showroom, parent-oriented websites, advertisements at MTR stations and on bus body, online platforms, etc.
Besides, the EDB has been making use of the one-stop parent education website “Smart Parent Net” (www.parent.edu.hk/en
From the 2020-21 to 2023-24 financial years, the EDB’s expenditure on promoting home-school co-operation and parent education is about $550 million.
Apart from the EDB, the Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) administered by the Family Health Service of the Department of Health also provide a Parenting Programme for parents of children up to five years old, which aims to enhance parents’ understanding of their children’s growth and development. The Parenting Programme consists of two components – a universal Parenting Programme and an intensive Positive Parenting Programme (Triple P Programme). The universal Parenting Programme provides individual counselling as well as public health talks and workshops on parenting. During the above individual parenting counselling, healthcare professionals will encourage parents to participate in the Triple P Programme if they notice that the child has early signs of behavioural problems or if the parents encounter difficulties in parenting. The Triple P Programme is a structured parenting programme which aims to increase parents’ confidence in parenting and improve their parenting skills. The programme is conducted by accredited facilitators and offered in the MCHCs in various districts. The programme covers the principles of positive parenting and helps parents to use positive communication skills and effective parenting methods to handle children’s behavioural problems in a way that does not harm the child’s self-esteem.
(2) to (3) Currently, all public-sector schools have set up PTAs. The EDB also encourages schools to plan and organise systematic school-based parent education programmes with reference to the Curriculum Frameworks and constantly evaluate the effectiveness of the programmes. The EDB have all along been regularly reviewing the implementation and effectiveness of the work of schools (including home-school co-operation and parent education) through inspections, school visits, etc, and providing feedback to schools in a timely manner to facilitate continuous development of schools. Publicly-funded schools are also required to draw up an implementation plan and report on the use of the One-off Grant on Parent Education, setting out the details of the subsidised items or activities, relevant expenses and the evaluations for submission to the School Management Committee/ Management Committee/ Incorporated Management Committee for endorsement.
Besides, the EDB has been requesting the PTAs of schools and the Federations of Parent-Teacher Associations (FPTAs) to submit an assessment report for evaluation of each activity supported by the relevant subsidies on home-school co-operation activities. The EDB also collects opinions from schools and parents through different means to continuously review the effectiveness of the measures implemented. In the 2023/24 school year, about 1 650 schools applied for these subsidies and approval was granted for subsidising around 3 690 activities.
(4) The EDB has been encouraging schools to maintain communication and collaboration with parents through diversified modes and channels so as to facilitate students’ learning and development. In general, schools would assist parents to support the whole-person development of children through the PTA activities, Parents’ Day, Parents’ Night, school publications, e-circulars, school website, groups of the mobile messaging applications, etc. Besides, some schools would make flexible arrangements for meeting and communicating with parents, such as online meetings, to cater for the needs of working parents. Schools may also provide online portals where parents can easily access information to keep track of their children’s academic progress and school activities at their convenience. Schools would in general encourage parents’ participation through activities related to students’ development and learning at school level, grade/form level or class level.
(5) The EDB has been encouraging parents to learn more about the National Security Law, proactively partner with schools and strengthen their collaboration with teachers, with a view to enhancing students’ awareness of safeguarding national security and abiding by the law. To strengthen national education, all publicly-funded schools are required to organise one or more activities relating to national education for parents every year from the 2022/23 school year onwards. The EDB continuously monitors and supports schools on the implementation of related measures through channels such as school visits and daily communications with schools, and makes suggestions for enhancement and improvement in accordance with school-based circumstances. Primary and secondary schools continue to organise different kinds of parent-child activities related to Chinese culture and national security education regularly, such as Chinese Culture Day, visits to the Hong Kong Palace Museum, Jao Tsung-I Academy and the Patriotic Education Centre, publications for parents and related exhibition boards in the school campuses, to help parents understand the importance of safeguarding national security. In addition, schools would invite guest speakers, such as representatives of the Hong Kong deputies to the National People’s Congress, to give talks in the parent seminars at schools with a view to deepening parents’ understanding of national security education and their role in supporting schools’ implementation of national security education.
Apart from the above, the EDB provides subsidies for PTAs of schools and FPTAs, encouraging them to organise activities on national education and national security education. From the 2021/22 to 2023/24 school years, the EDB has approved more than 2 390 applications from PTAs and 14 applications from FPTAs to support the provision of programmes or activities related to national education, national security education and values education, including school cultural exchange tours to the Mainland and local parent-child national education tours. About 64 000 parents have participated in such activities.
Issued at HKT 11:15
NNNN
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ16: Monitoring of operation of international schools
Question:
Regarding the monitoring of the operation of international schools, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) as it has been reported that the parents of students of an international kindergarten originally intended to cease operation at the end of July this year have been notified that the kindergarten may continue to operate with the current governing team in the next school year, whether any international schools and kindergartens, having applied for cessation of operation, have been approved by the authorities to continue operation in the past five years; if so, of the number, details and vetting and approval criteria of such cases;
(2) whether the Education Bureau (EDB) ultimately invoked section 14(1)(i) of the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279) in the past five years to refuse to register an international school due to the fact that the composition of the proposed management committee or incorporated management committee was such that the school might not be managed satisfactorily; if so, of the number and details of such cases;
(3) as it is reported that a number of international schools plan to increase tuition fees by four per cent to eight per cent in the next school year, of the specific role of the EDB in the determination of the rate of tuition fee adjustments and the financial arrangements by such schools and their sponsoring bodies; and
(4) as it has been reported that in January 2020, the Office of The Ombudsman issued a direct investigation report criticising the EDB for not setting up an approval mechanism in respect of the collection of charges other than tuition fees by international schools (e.g. construction fees and the requirement for parents to purchase debentures) over the years, and in June 2020, the then Secretary for Education indicated that international schools had to seek the EDB’s approval for collection of such charges starting from the 2020/2021 school year, of the implementation situation and progress of the relevant measure?
Reply:
President,
The education system in Hong Kong provides parents with diversified and high-quality choices. Apart from publicly-funded schools, private schools (including international schools) in Hong Kong have been playing a unique role in offering local and non-local curricula according to their mission. In particular, the Government is committed to developing a vibrant international school sector to meet the demand for international school places from non-local families living in Hong Kong and families coming to Hong Kong for work or investment. In the 2023/24 school year, there are 54 international schools (including one special school) in Hong Kong which admit 42 100 students, accounting for 6.4 per cent of some 650 000 primary and secondary students in Hong Kong. Apart from international schools, there are about 100 other private schools (Note) in Hong Kong.
(1) According to the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279) (the Ordinance), all schools must be registered with the Education Bureau (EDB). To obtain the registration for offering education, schools must comply with the regulations prescribed in the Ordinance in respect of the premises, safety, management and teaching staff. In the event that a school has ceased operation and cancelled its registration, any relevant persons intending to reopen a school at the old premises must submit application to the EDB for registration of a new school according to the relevant regulations. On the contrary, if a school has not ceased operation or cancelled its registration, there is no need to apply for school registration again. However, applications for a change in the school name and management of the school such as the school supervisor, the school manager and/or the school principal, have to be submitted to the EDB and obtain approval in accordance with the Ordinance before commencing operation.
(2) Schools have to comply with the relevant statutory requirements upon school registration. From our record, the EDB did not exercise the power under the concerned provision of the Ordinance to refuse applications for school registration in the past five years.
(3) In accordance with Regulation 65 of the Education Regulations (Cap. 279A), no change in fees shall be made by all schools (including international schools) without the prior written approval of the EDB. Schools which plan to adjust their school fees in the new school year are required to apply to the EDB. Private schools (including international schools) are self-financing and market-driven in their operation. The EDB will critically consider justifications provided by the schools (e.g. rent increase, salary adjustment of school staff, employment of additional teachers, purchase of teaching materials and major repair works, etc), the schools’ financial position, as well as the schools’ communication with parents on the relevant issues and response to parents’ concerns when examining the applications.
(4) The EDB had been actively following up on the recommendations made in the Ombudsman (OMB)’s report of January 2020 about establishing the more comprehensive application and approval mechanism regarding other charges (such as debentures, capital levies and fees for nomination rights) collected by private schools (including international schools). As it took time to establish a more comprehensive mechanism, the EDB had first introduced the transitional arrangement in the 2020/21 school year, allowing private schools which wished to continue collecting other charges for the 2020/21 school year to submit applications to the EDB. The EDB would examine the information submitted by the schools before granting the time-limited approval.
In the meantime, the EDB established the “Advisory Committee on Processing Applications for Collection of Capital Levies/Debentures/Nomination Rights” (the Committee), with members who were professional accountants, to formulate the more comprehensive application and approval mechanism to regulate the collection of other charges by private schools for long-term school development. The EDB also met with representatives of private schools with a view to understanding their operations. Following the recommendations of the Committee, the EDB issued the circular to private schools on August 22, 2023, to promulgate the implementation details of the application and approval mechanism for collection of other charges by private schools and started handling applications according to the new mechanism with effect from that date. On August 29, 2023, the EDB conducted a briefing session to give details of the mechanism to school representatives. Furthermore, after being informed of our work progress, the OMB concluded that the EDB had implemented the recommendations made in its investigation report.
Note: “Other private schools” refer to private ordinary primary and secondary day schools registered with the Education Bureau. They include day schools offering local or non-local curriculum day courses but not special schools and primary and secondary day courses operated by private schools offering tutorial, vocational and adult education courses.
Issued at HKT 12:48
NNNN
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ12: Developing a hub for primary and secondary education
Question:
It has been reported that, with the worsening situation of low birth rate in Hong Kong, primary and secondary schools are facing “class reduction and school closure” one after another. On the other hand, the Chief Executive has proposed in the 2023 Policy Address to build Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education. There are views that Hong Kong’s primary and secondary basic education also have significant advantages in developing international education (including teachers having all undergone high-quality and systematic training, and the curriculum being taught in both languages of Chinese and English, etc.), and the Government should make good use of such advantages and introduce policies to alleviate the impact of low birth rate, replenish the sources of students and nurture talents for the long-term development of Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the respective numbers of Mainland and overseas students currently enrolled in international schools at primary and secondary levels;
(2) whether it will consider constructing new school premises or converting the premises of some primary and secondary schools which have been closed or are likely to be closed, as well as providing additional supporting facilities (e.g. hostels), so as to operate primary and secondary schools dedicated to absorb Mainland and overseas students;
(3) whether it has plans to promote and admit students to local primary and secondary schools (including international schools and schools dedicated to offering Mainland curriculum) in the Mainland, neighbouring Chinese-populated regions and overseas, so as to increase the sources of students for various types of schools in Hong Kong; and
(4) whether it has plans to, while building Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education, build Hong Kong into an international hub for primary and secondary education; if so, of the details; if not, whether it will consider the plans concerned?
Reply:
President,
The Chief Executive’s 2023 Policy Address outlined the direction to develop Hong Kong into an international post-secondary education hub and a cradle of future talents. This policy is based on the fact that Hong Kong has world-renowned universities and outstanding research talents, thus focusing only on post-secondary education. Regarding primary and secondary education, parents are provided with diverse and quality choices under the education system of Hong Kong.
The Government provides 12 years’ free primary and secondary education to eligible children through public sector schools. Non-local students who come to live in Hong Kong with their parents (including those who come to Hong Kong under various talent admission schemes) may also choose to enrol in any local public sector schools, Direct Subsidy Scheme schools or private schools (including international schools) that suit them, provided they meet the relevant eligibility requirements. We are glad to see that Hong Kong’s diverse and quality education is also one of the factors attracting talents to Hong Kong.
Faced with a structural decline in school-age population, the Government accords top priority to the interests of students when planning for the future development of education. Aiming for a “soft landing”, we review the policies and effectiveness of utilisation of public resources, and adjust the number of schools in a gradual and orderly manner to ensure a healthy and sustainable education ecosystem and optimal use of public resources. As to non-public sector schools, they may also admit overseas students in accordance with prevailing policies, should they provide adequate supporting arrangements.
Our reply to the questions raised by Professor the Hon William Wong is as follows:
(1) The numbers of non-local students in international schools in the 2023/24 school year are tabulated as follows:
| Level(i) Figures refer to the position as at mid-September 2023. (ii) Figures include students in international schools, but not those in special schools. (iii) Local students refer to those who are Hong Kong permanent residents and do not have any valid passport other than the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passport. Students not covered by this definition are all regarded as non-local students. (iv) Mainland students refer to those with Chinese nationality (including those from Mainland China, Macao and Taiwan). (2) The Education Bureau (EDB) has all along upheld the principle of optimising the use of public resources, and handles vacant school premises (VSP) in accordance with Central Clearing House mechanism. The EDB conducts reviews on whether the vacant or to-be-vacant school premises are suitable to be retained for school use (primary and secondary school), having regard to factors such as the size, location and physical conditions of the premises, as well as the educational needs and relevant policy measures. Upon confirming that such premises are not required to be retained for school use, the EDB should, in accordance with the said mechanism, release the relevant sites for the Planning Department (PlanD)’s consideration of suitable long-term alternative uses. Since the establishment of the prevailing mechanism in 2011, the EDB already released over 250 vacant or to-be-vacant school premises sites. For details, please refer to the list of VSP sites updated by PlanD regularly on their webpage ( www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/resources/vsp/vsp_list.html NNNN Department of Fisheries to Host “Coastal States Meet 2025” on April 28th in Mumbai; Rs. 255 Crores worth of Fisheries Projects to be UnveiledSource: Government of India Department of Fisheries to Host “Coastal States Meet 2025” on April 28th in Mumbai; Rs. 255 Crores worth of Fisheries Projects to be Unveiled
Posted On: 26 APR 2025 11:19AM by PIB Delhi The Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is organizing a “Coastal States Meet – 2025” on 28th April 2025, at Hotel Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai under the chairmanship of Union Minister, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D) and Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Minister of State, MoFAH&D and Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Shri George Kurian, Minister of State, MoFAH&D and Ministry of Minority Affairs will also participate in the event. Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh will inaugurate and lay the foundation for key projects for 7 coastal states and UTs with a total outlay of Rs.255.30 crores under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), underscoring the commitment of the government for advancing the fisheries sector in the coastal states & UTs. He will also launch a set of key initiatives aimed at strengthening marine fisheries and promoting sustainable practices including Marine Fisheries Census Operations, Turtle Excluder Device (TED) project and release of Standard Operating procedure for Vessel Communication and Support System. On this occasion, certificates will also be distributed to outstanding Cooperatives, FFPOs, fisheries start-ups, and climate-resilient coastal fishing villages. As part of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PMMKSSY), beneficiaries will also receive Aqua Insurance certificates and Kisan Credit Cards (KCC). Notably, the government has introduced Aqua Insurance for the first time, offering dedicated financial protection to aquafarmers. This landmark initiative ensures targeted insurance coverage, digital accessibility, and focused support for marginalized communities in the fisheries sector. The meet will witness the gracious presence of eminent dignitaries, Shri Nitesh Neelam Narayan Rane, Hon’ble Minister of Fisheries, Government of Maharashtra, Shri Raghavjibhai Patel, Hon’ble Minister of Fisheries, Government of Gujarat, Shri. Nilkanth Halarnkar, Hon’ble Minister of Fisheries, Government of Goa, Shri Mankala S Vaidya, Hon’ble Minister of Fisheries, Government of Karnataka, Shri Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, Hon’ble Minister of Fisheries, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Shri Gokulananda Mallik, Hon’ble Minister of Fisheries, Government of Odisha, Shri K. Kailashnathan, IAS (Rtd.), Hon’ble Lt. Governor, UT of Puducherry. Officials from Department of Fisheries, State Fisheries Departments, ICAR Institutes and Bay of Bengal Programme (BoBP) will also participate in the meet. The Coastal States Meet 2025 will also feature key technical sessions including Strengthening Marine Fisheries Governance: Integrating Marine Fisheries Regulation Acts (MFRAs), Monitoring, Control & Surveillance (MCS), and Sea-Safety; Model Mariculture SOPs; Standard Operating Procedure of the Vessel Communication and Support System (VCSS); Export Promotion – Processing, Value Chain & Quality Improvements; and Promotion of Traceability and Certification in Marine Capture Fisheries. These sessions aim to offer practical policy insights and technical guidance to strengthen marine fisheries, ensure safety, promote sustainable mariculture, and improve export capabilities. In addition, the event will host an exhibition showcasing innovative technologies, products, and initiatives in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, fostering knowledge exchange and highlighting best practices. This meet serves as a vital platform for addressing region-specific challenges, promoting modern, eco-friendly approaches tailored to coastal ecosystems, and enhancing livelihood opportunities, productivity, and long-term economic development in the fisheries sector. Background The fisheries sector in India plays an important role in supporting rural livelihoods and contributing to the national economy. With a vast coastline and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.02 million square kilometres, India boasts of rich marine resources. The marine fisheries sector in India harbours significant potential, estimated at 5.31 million tonnes. Coastal states and Union Territories, which include around 3,477 coastal fishing villages, produce 72% of the country’s total fish production and account for 76% of India’s total seafood exports. **** Aditi Agrawal (Release ID: 2124464) Visitor Counter : 103 LCQ20: Quality of lunch boxes of primary school lunch suppliersSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region 3 LCQ20: Quality of lunch boxes of primary school lunch suppliers NNNN LCQ11: Student financial assistance schemes for tertiary studentsSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region 3 LCQ11: Student financial assistance schemes for tertiary students NNNN “Embracing the e+ Internet Generation Parent Seminar (3): Together in Spine Health Awareness of Online Pitfalls”; “Smart Parent Net” Recommendation: 創意不是天賦︰家長如何啟動孩子創意Mode?(Chinese version only)Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region 3 The Education Bureau, Hong Kong Education City, and Committee on Home-School Co-operation will co-organise the “Embracing the e+ Internet Generation Parent Seminar (3): Together in Spine Health Awareness of Online Pitfalls”. The seminar will be held on 21 February 2025 from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm in webinar mode. Registration is now open (application deadline: 20 February 2025 5:00 pm). An Associate Professor from the School of Chinese Medicine at the CUHK will guide parents on how to check their children’s scoliosis and provide spinal care tips for daily life and online learning. A Senior Inspector from Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of Hong Kong Police Force will present real-life cases of online pitfalls encountered by students and offer practical advice on safeguarding children from these dangers. Parents are cordially invited to join the seminar. For details, please refer to the website (https://www.hkedcity.net/eventcalendar/event/6796dd260646124d1bbefcac). For enquiries, please contact HKEdCity at 2624 1078 or email to carman@hkecl.net / info@hkedcity.net.
“Smart Parent Net” Recommendation: (Video) 人工智能如何幫助學生學習？(Chinese version only); SCOLAR Biliteracy and Trilingualism Campaign 2025 – “One-minute Video Production Competition” Open for RegistrationSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region Since its establishment, the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR) has been committed to enabling the people of Hong Kong to become biliterate and trilingual. To further raise the public’s attention and interest in biliteracy and trilingualism, SCOLAR continues to launch the “Biliteracy and Trilingualism Campaign” (the Campaign) this year and organise a series of activities for schools and the community in collaboration with our programme partners, with an aim of encouraging students to develop their language proficiency beyond classroom and creating a social atmosphere that promotes the effective use of biliteracy and trilingualism. The Central Allocation Stage of the Primary One Admission (POA) will commence soonSource: Hong Kong Government special administrative region The Central Allocation Stage of the Primary One Admission 2025 Cycle will commence soon. Parents whose children (including children who intend to commute daily to schools in Hong Kong) have not secured a discretionary place should make their choice of schools within the period from January 13 to January 19. In line with the Smart Government strategy, the Education Bureau (EDB) has fully implemented digitalisation of the POA. Parents who have registered as POA e-Platform (ePOA) users and have bound their account to “iAM Smart+” may submit the Choice of Schools Form for Central Allocation from January 13 to January 19 through the ePOA. Please refer to the related videos and Parent’s Guide on the EDB homepage (www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/poa_eplatform/index.html) for details of the procedures for activating and logging in an ePOA account and for making school choices for the Central Allocation of POA via the e-Platform. The EDB has also prepared a new promotional video to let parents better understand the functions and advantages of the ePOA. Parents may view the video through the link (www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6FDp75y13s). The EDB will send letters to parents on January 8 inviting them to make their choice of schools. To cater for the needs of different parents, parents can still submit the Choice of Schools Form in paper form by visiting the designated Central Allocation Centre at the suggested time slot (i.e. 9.30am to 12.30pm or 1.30pm to 4.30pm on January 18 (Saturday) or 9.30am to 12.30pm on January 19 (Sunday)) stated in the letter. Parents who are ePOA users may choose to submit the Central Allocation Application via the ePOA or in paper form to the Central Allocation Centre but should not submit duplicate applications. Parents who have not yet received the letter by January 13 should call the School Places Allocation Section of the EDB (Hotline: 2832 7700) as soon as possible. Only one parent of an applicant child is required to complete the school choice-making procedures. Parents are advised not to take their children to the Central Allocation Centre where possible. Parents who cannot make school choices within the suggested time slot can go to the designated Central Allocation Centre from 1.30pm to 4.30pm on January 19. The Choice of Schools Form will be sent together with the letter to parents who submitted a paper Application Form at the Discretionary Places stage for filling in advance. In the event of adverse weather or other special conditions on any day during the period of making school choices, please pay heed to radio or television announcements on the relevant special arrangements. For individual parents who are unable to use the ePOA or go to the Central Allocation Centre to make school choices, they can authorise in writing a representative to bring the completed Choice of Schools Form and their signed Letter of Authorisation to proceed with the related procedures. To apply for POA 2025 after January 19, parents need to complete necessary procedures with the School Places Allocation Section, which will separately arrange P1 places for the applicant children in June. Parents who have recently moved their residence or have such plans in the near future are required to inform the School Places Allocation Section as soon as possible so that they can make school choices in the POA School Net where their new home is located. Parents should fill in the actual residential address of their child. If they provide a false address for securing a P1 place, the POA application of their child will be rendered void and the P1 place allocated will be withdrawn. The EDB has put in place a monitoring mechanism to verify the residential addresses of applicant children as given by the parents. Random checks have also been stepped up. The public may call the School Places Allocation Section to report suspected cases of using a false address for POA application. The EDB will take action against false address cases. For information about the procedures for Central Allocation, please call the EDB’s 24-hour automatic telephone enquiry service at 2891 0088. For parents who have already activated their ePOA account via “iAM Smart” or “iAM Smart+”, they will receive their Central Allocation results through the ePOA from 10am on June 4. Parents who wish to receive the allocation results via SMS on June 4 may choose such an option in the Choice of Schools Form. In addition, the allocation results will be sent to parents by post from June 4 to 5. |