146 Education
To strengthen English language learning in secondary schools, $590 million have been set aside to fund professional development programmes and experience- sharing activities for secondary school teachers. This was further boosted through the launching in the 2010-11 school year, of a 'Refined English Enhancement Scheme' to provide additional funds for enhancing English-language learning and teaching in secondary schools to support the implementation of school-based MOI arrangements. About 390 secondary schools have joined the scheme.
The 'English Enhancement Grant Scheme for Primary Schools' for enhancing English-language learning and teaching was launched in 2009. Some 470 primary schools have joined it.
Enhancing the Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme
The Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme (PEVS), which provides direct subsidies for parents to pay for their children's kindergarten education, has been further enhanced in keeping with the Education Commission's review of the scheme. Starting from the 2011-12 school year, needy families were given greater financial support under the kindergarten fee remission scheme facilitating them to make their own choice of kindergarten services. With effect from the 2012-13 school year, the voucher value will be adjusted annually according to the year-on-year rate of change. in the Composite Consumer Price Index.
Hosting the International Education Forum and Expo
The International Education Forum and Expo (IEFE), hosted by the Education Bureau (EDB) between July 14 and 16, marked the formal launch of the New Academic Structure (NAS) signifying wide recognition and smoother articulation of new education system around the world.
Under the theme 'Learning Journey for the Globalised World', the three-day event comprised a ministerial roundtable, an international conference and an education expo. It showcased the learning opportunities available under the NAS to overseas authorities and education professionals, and provided information on the education systems of different countries and how the NAS articulates to their education systems.
Hong Kong attracted a large number of education ministers to the first Education Ministerial Roundtable. Over 11 000 local educators, parents, students and overseas education professionals participated in the event.
Student Achievements
As in previous years, Hong Kong students excelled in international competitions in 2011. Hong Kong teams won five gold, five silver and nine bronze medals in the International Mathematical Olympiad, the International Physics Olympiad, the International Olympiad in Informatics, and the International Sustainable World (Energy, Engineering, and Environment) Project Olympiad.
In music, Hong Kong students performed outstandingly in the 7th International Johannes Brahms Choir Festival and Competition, winning the Johannes Brahms Grand Prize and coming top in three categories. One student received first prize in
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