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She said the Government had always taken a pro-active approach to improving standards of English and Chinese, including Putonghua, among students. Measures include curriculum renewal, teacher training, additional facilities and resources, bridging courses and medium of instruction policy.
"Specific measures to enhance English language skills include employment of native English speakers, extra-curricular programmes, Extensive Reading Schemes, summer camps, etc. In the 1994/95 school year, Education Department spent a total of $205.8 million specifically to improve language proficiency in the school sector," she said.
"The creation of a $300 million Language Fund represents yet another government initiative to pool together the expertise and experience in the community to uplift language standards."
Miss Chung stressed the importance of ensuring that students in Hong Kong have the opportunity to develop effective communication skills in Chinese and English.
"Language proficiency will allow them to continue the learning process throughout their adult lives. Furthermore, Hong Kong will lose its cutting edge as a highly competitive international business centre and gateway to China if our students are not fully bilingual."
Also speaking at the reception, the chairman of the Language Fund Advisory Committee, Professor Rosie Young, said the Language Fund had so far approved grants for 56 projects totalling $87 million.
"In a few days' time, that is by the 30th of September, applications for the third Language Fund allocation exercise will officially be closed," she said.
Professor Young called on everybody concerned, including language teacher trainers, resource developers and researchers among others, to support this important mission.
End Tuesday, September 26, 1995
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