EDUCATION
consider the options in the light of public views and comments. To facilitate its establishment, the government will provide the GTC with a $20 million one-off grant.
Board of Education
The Board of Education (BOE) is a statutory body advising the government on school education, with particular emphasis on how to ensure the smooth implementation of education policies and initiatives for pre-school and school education, including special education. The BOE comprises members with wide. experiences in pre-school education, special schools, school administration, teaching, teacher education, tertiary education, business and other professions.
Last year, the BOE reviewed the implementation of nine-year free universal basic education and proposed measures for improvement. The government is implementing many of the recommendations and studying others in the light of the various developments in education.
Curriculum Development Council
The Curriculum Development Council (CDC) advises the government on matters relating to school curriculum development from kindergarten to the sixth form. Membership of the CDC and its network of committees includes heads of schools, teachers, parents and employers, academics, representatives from the Hong Kong Examinations Authority and the Vocational Training Council.
During the year, the CDC focused on developing curriculum continuity across different levels. As a first step, a holistic review on mathematics curriculum was conducted. The CDC also endorsed the framework and rationale of the Target Oriented Curriculum as the way forward in curriculum development.
Standing Committee on Language Education and Research
The Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR) was set up in 1996 to advise the government on language education issues in general and, in particular, to set goals for language learning at different levels of education and to identify research and development projects which are necessary for the enhancement of language proficiency and language in education.
SCOLAR also oversees the management of the Language Fund for the enhancement of language education in Hong Kong. Projects to enhance language standards in Chinese (including Putonghua) and English in Hong Kong will continue to be funded under the auspices of the Language Fund. To date the Language Fund has committed over $149.84 million for 126 projects.
Advisory Committee on Teacher Education and Qualifications
The Advisory Committee on Teacher Education and Qualifications (ACTEQ) is a non-statutory body set up in 1993, upon the recommendation of the Education Commission Report No. 5, to provide a single source of authoritative advice on teacher education and on qualifications acceptable for teaching purposes in Hong Kong. Of its 21 members, 15- including the chairman - are appointed non- officials. They include school heads, teachers, academics and businessmen. The six
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