ENG-2001 — Page 193

EDUCATION

Government has accepted the proposals and is preparing a bill to provide legal backing to the framework.

The year also saw the growth of a client-based culture within the Education Department and a closer working partnership with its stakeholders. The four Regional Education Offices are in full operation, providing comprehensive and integrated services to schools and the public through a series of school development visits, thematic seminars and professional networking.

The Quality Education Fund has continued to provide an additional source of resources for one-off projects and innovation in the areas of effective learning, school-based management, all-round education, information technology and education research.

To meet the needs of a knowledge-based economy, tertiary institutions must consolidate and strive for enhanced quality. They are encouraged to develop their academic strengths to international standards. In parallel, the Government is encouraging post-secondary institutions to provide more self-financing programmes at or above sub-degree level for senior secondary school leavers to upgrade the overall educational attainment of Hong Kong people.

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. A comprehensive review of the Education Ordinance and the Education Regulations was conducted in 2000. To better meet the present-day operational needs of schools and the Education Department, the Education (Amendment) Ordinance 2001 took effect in June.

The Vocational Training Council Ordinance (Cap. 1130) 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 (Cap. 320) 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 protect Hong Kong consumers by guarding against the marketing of substandard non-local courses conducted in Hong Kong.

The Government's Role

The Secretary for Education and Manpower, who heads the Education and Manpower Bureau of the Government Secretariat, formulates and reviews education policy, secures funds in the government budget, and

budget, and oversees the effective implementation of educational programmes.

The Director of Education, who heads the Education Department, implements policies at the kindergarten, primary and secondary levels. The department's main responsibilities include the enforcement of the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279); the provision and allocation of public sector school places; provision of education

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