ENG-2010 — Page 193

Education | 147

Qualifications Framework

Launched in May 2008, the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (QF) provides a transparent and accessible platform to promote lifelong learning and hence helps enhance the competitiveness of the workforce. It is a seven-level hierarchy that orders and supports qualifications of academic, vocational and continuing education. The QF is underpinned by a robust quality assurance mechanism. All qualifications recognised under the QF are locally accredited by HKCAAVQ or by the self- accrediting institutions in Hong Kong.

As a public face of the QF, the Government set up a Qualifications Register (QR), a web-based database that lists out all the qualifications recognised under the QF and their associated learning programmes. Learners can make use of the QR to map out their own study pathways.

The EDB has so far assisted 15 industries' to set up Industry Training Advisory Committees (ITACs), which comprise key stakeholders from the industries concerned. The ITACS are tasked with drawing up Specifications of Competency Standards for the relevant sectors, which set out the skills, knowledge and outcome standards required of employees in different functional areas of the respective sectors, and provide a basis for course providers to design training programmes to meet the needs of the sectors. The EDB also developed the Recognition of Prior Learning mechanism in parallel with the implementation of QF to enable employees to obtain formal recognition for the knowledge, skills and experience they have acquired in the workplace, and facilitate further learning without starting from scratch.

Adult Education

The Financial Assistance Scheme for Designated Evening Adult Education Courses, which provides subsidies for adult learners attending evening secondary courses at designated centres, saw a total of 1 460 students enrolled in the 2010-11 school year.

Quality Education Fund

Up to the end of the 2009-10 school year, the Quality Education Fund (QEF) had provided about $3.82 billion for the execution of some 7 940 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 311 secondary schools, 431 primary schools, 17

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