XN000022-1991-05-14 — Page 13

TUESDAY, MAY 14, 1991

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EDUCATION DEPT TO PROVIDE KEY SUPPORT FOR SMI SCHOOLS

A SCHOOL MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE (SMI) ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL BE FORMED TO DRAW ON A WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATION AND MANAGEMENT EXPERTISE AND TO PROVIDE A CHANNEL FOR DEVELOPING AND DISSEMINATING IDEAS.

MR

THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM), S.M. TSUI, SAID THIS TODAY (TUESDAY) IN INVITING AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO TAKE PART IN THE FIRST PHASE OF THE SMI.

"THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF ENGAGING CONSULTANTS TO DEFINE THE INFORMATION NEEDS OF THE SCHOOLS EDUCATION PROGRAMME AND DEVELOP APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS," TSUI SAID.

MR

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE SMI WILL GIVE SCHOOLS MORE FLEXIBILITY TO USE RESOURCES TO MEET THEIR OWN DEFINED NEEDS AND CLARIFY THE FUNCTIONS AND RRSPONSIBILITIES OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE DELIVERY OF EDUCATION.

THE FIRST PHASE WHICH WILL BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO 50 SCHOOLS.

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS WILL BE FUNDED UNDER NEW ARRANGEMENTS: BUT THE MAIN CHANGE WILL BE SINGLE BLOCK GRANT WHICH WILL REPLACE THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION GRANT, SCHOOL AND CLASS GRANT, AND FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT GRANT.

"SCHOOLS WILL HAVE MORE DISCRETION ΤΟ DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES HOW THEY WILL SPEND THIS GRANT," MR TSUI SAID.

HE

TO

BUT BEFORE THE NEW FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE INTRODUCED, ADDED THAT SCHOOLS WILL NEED TO MODIFY THEIR MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES ENSURE THAT RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING SCHOOL ACTIVITIES WERE PROPERLY DEFINED, AND ALSO TO ENSURE THAT THE SCHOOL WAS ABLE TO EVALUATE THOSE ACTIVITIES.

ΤΟ

DURING THE 1991-92 SCHOOL YEAR, PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS WILL BE HELPED TO MODIFY THEIR PRESENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES BRING THEM IN LINE WITH THE NEW FRAMEWORK AND TO PREPARE FOR THE FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS IN THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR.

NEW

KEY SCHOOL ACTIVITIES WILL BE:

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THE PREPARATION AND ADOPTION OF A FORMAL THE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE;

CONSTITUTION FOR

THE INTRODUCTION OF FORMAL PROCEDURES FOR PLANNING THE SCHOOL'S ACTIVITIES AND BUDGET DURING THE FOLLOWING YEAR, LEADING TO A FIRST ATTEMPT AT PRODUCING AN "ANNUAL SCHOOL PLAN (IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE A FEW YEARS FOR A SCHOOL TO FULLY DEVELOP ITS SCHOOL PLAN. DURING YEAR

THE FOCUS WILL BE ON. THE INTRODUCTION OF FORMAL PLANNING PROCEDURES IN THE SCHOOL, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SCHOOL BUDGET FOR 1992- 93)";

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1.

THE DEVELOPMENT

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