********************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Education Commission:
The Chairman of the Education Commission, Dr Moses Cheng, today (January 14) welcomed the education initiatives announced in the Chief Executive's 2015 Policy Address.
"As the Chairman of the Education Commission, I am pleased that the Government announced a series of new initiatives to provide the younger generation with diversified learning, training and development opportunities with a view to nurturing talent for Hong Kong.
"I share the Government's initiative to renew and enrich the curriculum content of Science, Technology, Mathematics, Chinese History and World History and enhance the training of teachers to help enrich students' learning experience and unleash their full potentials. On the other hand, expansion and refinement of the sister schools in Hong Kong and the Mainland as well as education exchange and collaboration between schools in Hong Kong and the Mainland would help broaden students’ life experience and horizons. The review, enhancement and reinforcement of the Business-School Partnership Programme would enhance students' understanding of different trades and prepare them for future employment through activities such as mentorship and career experience programmes," Dr Cheng said.
"I am also pleased that the Government continues to enhance support for students with special educational needs (SEN) and financial needs. The enhanced support to facilitate schools' deployment of a designated teacher to co-ordinate matters relating to SEN support would help schools plan and implement their support strategies more holistically and systematically.
"In tandem, the Government, with a view to attracting more talent to join the teaching force of primary education, will progressively increase the graduate teacher ratio in public sector primary schools from the current 50 per cent to 65 per cent in the 2017/18 school year.
"I believe that the Education Bureau will be working closely with the stakeholders in mapping out the implementation details. The Education Commission will also contribute its advice for nurturing talent with global outlook and optimising the human resources of Hong Kong," he added.
Ends/Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Issued at HKT 21:14
NNNN