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Progress Report on the Education Reform
(2)
Section 7 : Increase in Education Opportunities
(1) Increase in Senior Secondary Education
Opportunities
Target
To provide all Secondary 3 students studying in publicly funded
schools, who have the ability and wish to continue with their studies,
with subsidized Secondary 4 or training places.
Last Year's Progress
- The Secondary 3 students concerned have been provided with
sufficient Secondary 4 or training places.
(2) Increase in Post-secondary Education
Opportunities
Target
To support the progressive increase in post-secondary education
opportunities so that 60% of senior secondary school leavers will
have access to post-secondary education by the 2010/11 academic
year.
Last Year's Progress
- The overall post-secondary participation rate for the 17-20
age cohort rose to 42%.
- Approved interest free start-up loans to support non-profit-making
education providers in providing accredited self-financing post-secondary
programmes.
- Invited applications for 5 pieces of land to be granted by private
treaty to non-profit-making post-secondary education providers
for construction of purpose-built premises.
- Increased the total commitment of accreditation grant scheme
for post-secondary education providers to conduct institutional
reviews and programme validations.
- Provided financial assistance to post-secondary students.
Tasks Ahead for the Coming Year
- Subject to the availability of resources, plan to increase second
and third year of undergraduate places to provide more articulation
opportunities for sub-degree graduates.
- Continue to step up publicity to enhance the public's understanding
of sub-degree qualifications and its prospects for employment
or further studies. This should help promote recognition of these
qualifications.
(3) Promoting Continuing Education
Target
To provide a favorable environment for the development of continuing
education through the promotion of mutual recognition and transfer
of qualifications and to increase education opportunities.
Last Year's Progress
- The public was consulted on the proposal of setting up a qualifications
framework and associated quality assurance mechanism. The Government
and the Manpower Development Committee are examining these comments.
- A $5 billion Continuing Education Fund was set up in June 2002
to subsidise eligible Hong Kong residents to study in reimbursable
courses. As at March 2003, there were 1 215 reimbursable courses
and more than 28 000 applications.
Tasks Ahead for the Coming Year
- To gradually implement and promote the qualifications framework,
to introduce legislative proposal to set up an effective quality
assurance mechanism, and to enlist the support and input of the
stakeholders in the process.
- To review the eligibility for and operation of the Continuing
Education Fund.
Section 8 : Review Progress
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