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Education
interviews and written submissions. Taking account of those suggestions, it is expected that recommendations addressing schools' practical concerns at both the system/school and subject level will be submitted to the Joint CDC-HKEAA Public Examinations Board for discussion and endorsement in early 2013, and implemented in the 2013-14 school year leading to the 2016 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination.
Supporting Development of Self-financing Post-secondary Education Sector
The Government is committed to promoting the sustainable development of the self-financing post-secondary sector. In 2012, the Government granted two land sites at nominal premium, expanded the ambit of the Start-up Loan Scheme to support the development of student hostels for the self-financing tertiary sector, and injected $1 billion into the Self-financing Post- secondary Education Fund to set up more scholarships and awards to give recognition to post- secondary students not only of outstanding academic performance but also with achievements and talents in other non-academic fields.
In addition, the Committee on Self-financing Post-secondary Education was established on 1 April to oversee the development of the fast-developing self-financing post-secondary education sector in Hong Kong and advise the Secretary for Education.
Supporting Schools to Enhance Learning and Teaching
The Government provides ordinary schools with additional resources, professional support and teacher training to help them cater for students with special educational needs. The EDB's professional staff pay regular visits to schools to render professional advice on school policies. and support measures to implement integrated education. Educational psychologists, audiologists and speech therapists conduct case assessment, provide consultation and support services for schools. In addition, resource packages are also developed for teachers.
To further enhance the support for schools to cater for students' diverse educational needs, the Government will extend progressively the provision of School-based Educational Psychology Service to cover all public sector primary and secondary schools by the 2016-17 school year. To strengthen teachers' capacity to cater for students with special education needs, structured training programmes are arranged. The number of primary and secondary school teachers having received such training has increased significantly in recent years.
The EDB reviews and enhances the support measures for integrated education on an ongoing basis. With continuous concerted efforts from relevant stakeholders, an inclusive culture has gradually taken root in schools. The EDB will continue to monitor the implementation of various measures with a view to further enhancing the effectiveness of integrated education.
Overall Education Landscape
Expenditure on Education
In the 2012-13 financial year, the approved estimate for recurrent government expenditure on education was $59.7 billion, or 22.6 per cent of all recurrent government expenditure, while the total estimate for government expenditure on education was $79.1 billion, or 20.1 per cent of total government expenditure.
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