ENG-2008 — Page 199

Education 1 147

Adult Education

The Financial Assistance Scheme for Designated Evening Adult Education Courses, provided for adult learners attending evening secondary courses at designated centres, saw a total of 1 530 students enrolled in the 2008-09 school

year.

A total of 75 students enrolled in the 2008 cohort of the pilot Certificate in Foundation Studies programme which was tailor-made for adult learners with low education standards (below Secondary 3).

Quality Education Fund

Up to the end of the 2007-08 school year, the Quality Education Fund (QEF) had provided $3.62 billion for the execution of 7 434 projects. The fund was established in 1998 with an allocation of $5 billion to support initiatives that promote quality education and schemes that recognise excellence in schools and teachers. The QEF also identifies good practices that other schools may adopt.

School-based Support Services

The Education Development Fund (EDF) was set up in 2004 with an allocation of $550 million to support educational reforms. The EDB provided support services, including those financed by EDF, to 306 secondary schools, 435 primary schools, 17 special schools and 60 kindergartens/kindergarten-cum-child care centres through the School-based Support Services Office in the 2007-08 school year.

The Regional Education Offices also offer support services to individual schools. Professionals from these offices work with school heads and teachers on new learning and teaching methods.

Support Measures for Non-Chinese Speaking Students

The EDB has in place different support measures to help non-Chinese speaking (NCS) students in the education system integrate with the wider community. The measures include the provision of intensive on-site support and special grant to 16 designated primary and six secondary schools in the 2008-09 school year. A supplementary guide has been developed for teaching Chinese Language to NCS students. Tertiary institutions have been commissioned to provide on-site support programmes and to run Chinese Language Learning Support Centres offering further support to NCS students and to train Chinese Language teachers in schools with NCS students.

Support Programmes for Needy Students

Under the School-based After-school Learning and Support Programmes, 901 schools and 138 non-governmental organisations received subsidies in the 2008-09 school year for organising after-school activities to help some

help some 172 500 needy students improve their learning effectiveness, broaden their learning experience outside the classroom and raise their understanding of the community and sense of belonging.