The Quality Education Fund allocates 1.5 billion to support 310,000 students to buy computers and surf the Internet at most $6400 per person

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Written by: Li Enci

2021-05-17 21:51

Last update date: 2021-05-17 21:55

The Education Bureau today (17th) issued a circular letter to all public-sector primary and secondary schools and DSS schools in Hong Kong, informing them of the details of the "Quality Education Fund e-Learning Grant Scheme-Provision of Mobile Computer Devices and Internet Support".

Participating schools can apply for funding to purchase mobile computer devices for students in financial need to borrow, and provide online support for students who are unable to obtain suitable Internet services due to limitations in their living environment.

About 1.5 billion yuan is earmarked for support, which can benefit about 310,000 students.

The ceiling for the purchase of mobile computer devices for each student is $4,700, and the ceiling for the purchase of Wi-Fi and mobile data cards is $1,700, which means that each student can get a total of up to $6,400.

The original care fund plan ended in August this year

A spokesman for the Education Bureau said that the Quality Education Fund has specifically earmarked funds for the implementation of a three-year e-learning funding scheme, which will begin in the 2021/22 school year.

Approximately $1.5 billion is earmarked for the provision of mobile computer devices and Internet support, which will benefit approximately 310,000 students.

The spokesman pointed out that the government, through the Community Care Fund, has implemented a three-year assistance project starting in the 2018/19 school year to subsidize poor primary and secondary school students to purchase mobile computer devices and encourage all public primary and secondary schools and DSS schools that implement e-learning to participate.

In the 2020/21 school year, about 870 schools will participate in this project, and it is estimated that about 140,000 students will benefit, which is four times the total number of beneficiaries in the past two academic years.

On the other hand, in order to strengthen support for elementary and middle school students in financial need who are unable to obtain suitable Internet services due to the limited living environment, the Bureau will issue a one-off supplementary allowance to schools in need from the end of 2020 to early 2021 to purchase portable Wireless network routers and mobile data cards have benefited more than 15,400 students.

The above-mentioned care fund assistance projects will be completed at the end of August this year.

Schools can identify students with financial needs to participate

The Education Bureau has referred to the application procedures of the Community Care Fund to simplify school administration as much as possible. The Education Bureau has also expanded the scope of beneficiaries.

In addition to students receiving CSSA or school textbook allowances, additional places are also provided. Schools can identify students with genuine financial needs in accordance with school-based guidelines so that they can also benefit.

During the three-year implementation period, the school can apply for a basic grant for each eligible student to purchase a mobile computer device (including 3 years of maintenance and installation of a mobile device management system) and some basic accessories (such as device protective covers, stylus pens and earphones) Etc.) for the student to borrow.

The upper limit of the grant amount per student is 4,700 yuan.

In addition, the school can apply for additional funding to purchase portable wireless network routers and mobile data cards for students with financial needs who are unable to obtain suitable Internet services due to the limitations of their living environment. Funding during the three-year implementation period The maximum amount is RMB 1,700 per beneficiary student.

Extension of the special funding plan for two years

In addition, the Fund started to implement a four-year "Special Funding Scheme for Publicly Aided Schools" (Special Funding Scheme) in the 2018/19 school year to allow public primary and secondary schools (including special schools), DSS schools, and kindergartens participating in the kindergarten education program to apply Funds are allocated to implement school-based curriculum design and student support measures.

The special funding plan was originally scheduled to end in the 2021/22 school year. In view of the epidemic or affecting schools' participation in the plan, the fund decided to extend the implementation period of the special funding plan by two years to the 2023/24 school year.

The current application procedures and regulations will remain unchanged.

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