Education | 181
Council on Professional Conduct in Education
The Council on Professional Conduct in Education was set up in 1994 to enhance teachers' professionalism. With a composition of 25 elected members from schools/educational organisations and three members nominated by the PSEM, it advises the Permanent Secretary on matters relating to professional conduct in education. It also draws up operational criteria defining the conduct expected of an educator and advises, where necessary, on cases of dispute or alleged professional misconduct.
Student Finance
Means-tested and non-means-tested Financial Assistance
To ensure that no students are deprived of education for lack of financial means, the Student Financial Assistance Agency (SFAA) provides both means-tested and non means-tested financial assistance to needy students. Means-tested assistance includes fee remission for kindergarten pupils; grants to primary and secondary school students in the form of textbook assistance and travel subsidy; remission of tuition fees and examination fees for students of Secondary 4 to 7 in public sector schools; grants for payment of tuition fees, and low-interest loans for meeting living expenses to students at the post-secondary and tertiary level; and reimbursement of tuition. fees for Project Yi Jin students.
Non-means tested and interest-bearing loans are available to students pursuing recognised publicly funded or self-financing local award-bearing programmes as well as professional or continuing education courses for tuition fee payments and living
expenses.
Scholarships and Other Assistance Schemes
The SFAA also administers many privately funded and merit-based scholarships and assistance schemes for students.
Continuing Education Fund
A $5 billion Continuing Education Fund was launched in June 2002 to subsidise adults with learning aspirations to pursue continuing education and training courses in specified sectors. Eligible applicants are reimbursed 80 per cent of their fees up to $10,000, on successful completion of a reimbursable course or module forming part of the course.
Community Participation in Education
Home-school Cooperation
Home-school cooperation is a vital element in quality education. With the continued efforts of the Committee on Home-School Cooperation, the number of Parent-Teacher Associations has increased to over 1 400 by the end of 2004. The Committee also promotes parent education with a focus on the home-school interface.