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International conference on school effectiveness

Seven members of the Education Commission (EC) today (Saturday) departed for the tenth annual meeting of the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI), which will be held in Memphis, USA, from January 5 and

8.

They are the Chairman, Professor Rosie Young; Mr Moses Cheng; Ms Sansan Ching; Mr Kenneth Mak; Mr Tai Hay-lap; Sister Margaret Wong; and Director of Education, Mrs Helen C P Lai Yu.

Apart from the EC delegation, there are some 20 other participants from Hong Kong. They include representatives of the Education Department, the Hong Kong Institute of Education, academics, school principals and educational bodies.

Professor Young noted that the theme of the Congress is "A World of World Class Schools". The goal is to examine diverse methods for creating and sustaining "world class" education.

"The EC will publish in early 1997 its report no. 7 (ECR7) on quality school education. In view of the relevance of the ICSEI meeting to the development of quality education in Hong Kong, it is considered beneficial for EC members to participate in the meeting and study the practical experience of school reform in overseas countries," she said.

At the Congress, there will be international presentations on recent school reform movements and local school visits. Participants will also have ample opportunities to exchange views on issues relating to school effectiveness and improvement.

The Director of Education, Mrs Helen Yu, will host a Hong Kong Symposium on "the Latest Initiatives for School Effectiveness and Educational Quality in Hong Kong".

"This will give us the valuable opportunity to take reference and to confer with overseas policy-makers and leading advocates of quality education. This prepares us for the education reform to result from ECR7. The Congress will also enable our colleagues to establish and extend contacts overseas. For Education Department, we see this an occasion for staff development," Mrs Yu said.

The ICSEI is a group of researchers, policy specialists and school practitioners dedicated to building a base for research, practice and policy in the areas of school effectiveness and school improvement.