ENG-2014 — Page 171

7

Education

Adult Education

In the 2014-15 school year, around 1,400 adult students enrolled in evening secondary courses at designated centres operated by Approved Course Providers under the Financial Assistance Scheme for Designated Evening Adult Education Courses. Eligible students obtained subsidies under the scheme.

Student Achievements

Hong Kong students excelled in international competitions in 2014. Hong Kong teams won a total of four gold, 12 silver and five bronze medals in the International Mathematical Olympiad, the International Physics Olympiad, the International Olympiad in Informatics and the International Junior Science Olympiad.

In music, Hong Kong students won a championship and nine gold medals in the World Choir Games 2014, two first prizes and two best performance prizes at the International Festival of Choral Art, a grand prix and a gold medal in the Slovakia International Youth Music Festival, and a first and second prize in the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

In visual arts, Hong Kong students won four Hong Kong Grand Prizes in the International Students' Visual Arts Contest-cum-Exhibition of Hong Kong, and first prize at the On-site Painting of the 'International Children Painting Competition in Hong Kong'

In sports, Hong Kong students won four silver medals in individual events, and two gold and one bronze medal in team events in the Summer Youth Olympics; one bronze medal in team events in the 17th Asian Games in Incheon; and came first in a variety of sports events in the Schools Interport Competitions. Hong Kong young athletes won six gold, three silver and one bronze medal in the 5th World Junior Wushu Championships; 10 gold, eight silver and 19 bronze medals in the Asian Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships; one gold, two silver and six bronze medals in the 21st Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships; and 28 gold, 30 silver and 34 bronze medals in the World Rope Skipping Championships.

Qualifications and Quality Assurance

Qualifications Framework

The Hong Kong Qualifications Framework (QF), established under the Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications Ordinance, provides a transparent and accessible platform to promote lifelong learning and help enhance the competitiveness of the workforce. It covers academic, vocational and continuing education qualifications. The QF is underpinned by a robust quality assurance mechanism. All qualifications recognised under the QF are locally accredited by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) (established under the HKCAAVQ Ordinance) or by the self- accrediting institutions in Hong Kong. The government maintains a Qualifications Register, a web-based database that lists the qualifications and their associated learning programmes recognised under the QF.

127