ENG-1995 — Page 185

EDUCATION

project was launched in September 1994, aiming at extending the programme to such students in secondary schools.

During the year, a research project on the identification of academically-gifted children continued, and a resource centre for such children was opened. A Schools Support Scheme providing school-based psychological services to secondary schools was also introduced.

International Schools

In keeping with Hong Kong's international character, a number of schools offer curricula designed to meet the needs of particular cultural or linguistic groups.

The English Schools Foundation (ESF) operates nine primary schools (known as junior schools) and five secondary schools for children whose first language is English, and a special education school for English-speaking students with moderate to severe learning difficulties. The education provided is similar in content and method to that available in schools in Britain, and leads to British public examinations. The ESF receives public grants based on grants paid to local aided schools, and charges fees to meet additional costs. A review on the funding arrangements for ESF was conducted during the year to take account of developments since the last review in 1980 while adhering to the principle of parity of subsidy vis-à-vis the local aided school sector.

Other international schools provide education based on the American, Canadian, French, Japanese, German-Swiss, Australian, Singaporean and Korean curricula and systems. In 1995, there were 18 such schools operating up to secondary level, 23 at primary level, and 22 kindergartens. Many non-profit-making international schools were eligible for the Hong Kong Government's grants of land at nominal prices and reimbursement of rates and sponsorship by their home governments or communities. A review on provision of international schools was conducted in 1995, and a new package of assistance was introduced. Under this, the government has systematised the procedures to deal with land grant applications from non-profit-making international schools, and will provide a new interest-free loan up to the cost of constructing a standard-design primary or secondary public-sector school.

Teacher Education

The Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) held its first graduation ceremony in July. Of the 2 133 graduates, 1 256 attended the full-time programmes and 877 the part-time in-service programmes. The HKIEd offers a variety of teacher training programmes for secondary school leavers and in-service teachers. In the 1994-95 academic year, it offered more than 40 courses for over 8 200 full-time and part-time students. These included the new pre-service Certificate in Education programme; in- service initial training for kindergarten, primary, secondary, technical, commercial and special education teachers; refresher training courses for serving teachers in primary and secondary schools; and advanced courses of teacher education for non- graduate secondary school teachers of cultural, practical and technical subjects.

As part of the institute's quality assurance processes, it has started a comprehensive review of all courses currently being offered. At the same time, the HKCAA has started an institutional review of the HKIEd to assess the suitability of its academic environment and processes for the development, introduction, conduct and

147