ENG-1999 — Page 189

EDUCATION

key players are ready for their new roles and responsibilities, the Government has provided ongoing support and opportunities for professional enrichment.

In the past, government and aided schools provided the bulk of primary and secondary school places. The Government recognises the need to inject more variety into the school system to give parents wider choices. To this end, the Government has introduced resources to facilitate the development of a vibrant private school sector. These include allocating government-built school premises for the operation of non- profit making Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools, and granting land at nominal premium to non-profit-making private independent schools.

The year also saw the Education Department embarking on a reform of its organisational and management structures. Taking into account the recommendations of the management consultants and views received through public consultation, the Government has decided on the broad framework of reform for the department. The reform will serve to establish a client-based culture, enhance the department's professional capabilities, as well as redefine its roles and relationship with schools with the ultimate aim of enhancing the quality of education.

In addition, the education system has been the subject of a comprehensive review undertaken by the Education Commission. The overall objective is to have in place an education system which would develop students' abilities and attitude for life-long learning so that they could rise to the challenges in the new millennium. It aims to complete the review by 2000.

The Quality Education Fund has continued to provide an efficient channel of resources for innovation in the areas of effective learning, school-based management, all-round education and education research.

Higher education has developed very rapidly in the past 10 years. Tertiary institutions must now consolidate and strive for enhanced quality and they are encouraged to develop their academic strengths into internationally recognised 'areas of excellence'.

Regulatory Legislation

School education services come under the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279). School operators must comply with the provisions of the ordinance and the Education Regulations covering areas such as registration of schools, teachers and managers, health and safety requirements, fees and charges and teacher qualifications. Starting from the 1999-2000 school year, a list of registered and provisionally registered schools is made available on the Education Department home page http://www.info.gov.hkledl.

The Vocational Training Council Ordinance provides for the establishment, functions and management of the Vocational Training Council, which is the main. body responsible for vocational education and technical training. The Post- Secondary Colleges Ordinance covers institutions offering post-secondary courses outside the tertiary sector. The Education Scholarships Fund Ordinance (Cap. 1085) provides for the administration of scholarships donated by members of the public. The Non-local Higher and Professional Education (Regulation) Ordinance (Cap. 493) took effect in June 1997 to provide consumer protection. It introduces a registration system to regulate the quality of courses conducted in Hong Kong and

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