ENG-2014 — Page 163

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Education

Support for Non-Chinese-speaking students

The government is committed to encouraging and supporting early integration of non- Chinese-speaking (NCS) students into the community, including facilitating their adaptation to the local education system and mastery of the Chinese language. The 2014 Policy Address announced a series of measures to step up support for NCS students. Starting from the 2014-15 school year, the Education Bureau provides schools with the 'Chinese Language Curriculum Second Language Learning Framework' to help NCS students overcome the difficulties of learning Chinese as a second language and to switch to mainstream Chinese Language classes. In addition, Applied Learning Chinese (for NCS students) courses pegged at the Qualifications Framework Levels 1 to 3 will be provided by stages starting from the 2014-15 school year for NCS students at senior secondary level. Complementary support measures include enhancing Chinese Language teachers' capabilities in teaching Chinese as a second language, funding support to schools for intensive Chinese language teaching for NCS students and creating an inclusive learning environment.

The Chinese Language Learning Support Centre offers support programmes for NCS students after school and during holidays. It also helps develop teaching resources and organises professional development workshops to support teachers and parents of NCS students.

To help NCS students, institutions funded by the University Grants Committee accept various Chinese language qualifications as alternatives to the HKDSE, including the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), General Certificate of Education (GCE) AS-Level and GCE A-Level under specified circumstances for application under the Joint University Programmes Admissions System. Similar arrangements have been made for admission of NCS students to sub-degree programmes. The fees payable by NCS students taking these Chinese language examinations are subsidised so that they are the same as those for the HKDSE Chinese Language examination. NCS students with financial needs may receive half or full remission of the subsidised examination fee.

NCS parents are encouraged to send their children to schools with a rich Chinese language. environment to help them master the language. In collaboration with non-governmental organisations and with funding provided by the Language Fund, the government organises district-based programmes for NCS children aged three to nine to motivate them to learn Chinese through fun activities such as games and creative art. Vocational Chinese Language courses for NCS school leavers recognised under the Qualifications Framework are in the planning stage.

Special Education

Subject to the assessment and recommendation of specialists and with parents' consent, students with more severe or multiple disabilities are placed in special schools for intensive support. Other students with special educational needs (SEN) may attend ordinary schools. In December 2014, there were 60 special schools, 21 of which have boarding facilities, providing around 8,900 school places and 1,100 boarding places. Some 36,190 students with SEN were studying in public sector ordinary primary and secondary schools.

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