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EDUCATION

aims to promote educational and cultural exchange and to enhance Hong Kong's image concerning research and development.

Other Scholarship and Assistance Schemes

The Student Financial Assistance Agency administers other privately funded scholarship and assistance schemes for school students. Many are governed under the Education Ordinance.

As regards the student financial assistance schemes for pre-primary, primary and secondary school students, the criteria of the means test have been relaxed with effect from September to alleviate the financial hardship of very low income families in educating their children.

Education-related Executive and Advisory Bodies

Members of the community play an important part in the planning and development, management and review of the education system by serving on various advisory bodies. Through them, public views are sought on major initiatives in education and major changes of policies, and on how these initiatives or changes could be implemented most effectively.

Education Commission

The Education Commission (EC) is responsible for advising the Government on the overall educational objectives and policies, and the priorities for implementation. It also co-ordinates the work of all other education-related advisory bodies on the planning and development of education at all levels. Its membership includes key government officials, education professionals from the tertiary, secondary, primary and early childhood sectors, and members of some other sectors of the community. The EC is conducting an overall, three-stage review of the education system in Hong Kong to examine how it should develop into the 21st century. The focus of the first stage was on the aims of education for Hong Kong in the 21st century. Public consultation on this stage of the review was held between January and March. On the basis of the comments received, the EC has embarked on the second stage of the review to examine how the existing academic structure, the curricula and the assessment mechanisms at various stages of education could be improved to meet the aims of education for the 21st century. The EC launched a public consultation exercise on the proposed framework for education reform from September to mid- December. In the third stage, the EC will draw up reform proposals in the light of public views and comments received during the second stage of consultation. The EC expects to complete the whole review and submit recommendations to the Chief Executive in 2000.

Board of Education

The Board of Education (BOE) is a statutory body advising the Government on school education, with particular emphasis on how to ensure the smooth implementation of education policies and initiatives for pre-school and school education, including special education. The BOE comprises members with different expertise and experiences in pre-school education, special schools, school administration, teaching, teacher education, tertiary education, business and other professions.

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