ENG-2004 — Page 208

174 Education

grant for construction of DSS/non-profit-making private independent schools. In September, there were 55 DSS schools, offering about five per cent of the school places. The first non-profit-making private independent school has started operation and eight more are scheduled to start in phases by 2008. There are 11 Senior Secondary School (SSS) out of the 55 DSS schools; three, of which start operation in the 2004-05 school year. SSSS are operated under the DSS funding mode to facilitate the schools in designing market-led, diversified and practical courses to provide an additional education option for Secondary 3 leavers who are interested in alternative curricula.

Fifty-six international schools including 15 schools operated by the English. Schools Foundation were operating in Hong Kong in September. These schools form an important social infrastructure to maintain Hong Kong's status as an international business centre and a vibrant cosmopolitan city. They offer different non-local curricula, namely, American, Australian, British, Canadian, French, German-Swiss, Singaporean, Japanese, Korean and International Baccalaureate, and provide a total of 32 600 places.

Special Education

One of the Government's main policy objectives is to integrate children with special educational needs into the community through coordinated efforts by non- governmental organisations with government support. In the 2004-05 school year, 117 mainstream schools adopted a whole-school approach to supporting about 800 students with special educational needs or with a mild disability. In addition, 62 special schools were operated for those with severe or multiple disabilities, of which 20 also provided boarding facilities. Together, they provide around 8 500 school places and 1 000 boarding places. Nineteen special schools were also serving as resource centres providing professional and resource support for ordinary schools which have admitted students with special education needs.

The Government also provides support services for gifted students to develop their potential; for instance through school-based support, development of resource packages, research and development projects, training courses for teachers and parents, and off-site enrichment programmes.

Project Yi Jin

The Government launched Project Yi Jin in October 2000 to provide an alternative route to continuing education for secondary school leavers and adult learners. Successful completion of the programme will lead to a qualification comparable to five passes in the HKCEE for continuing education and employment purposes. In the 2004-05 school year, there were over 5 380 full-time and part-time students in the programme.

Vocational Education

The Vocational Training Council (VTC) provides and promotes a cost-effective and comprehensive system of vocational education and training for school leavers and adult learners to acquire skills and knowledge for lifelong learning and enhanced employability.