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Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: World Veterinary Day 2025: National Workshop in New Delhi Honours Veterinarians behind India’s Livestock Powerhouse

    Source: Government of India

    World Veterinary Day 2025: National Workshop in New Delhi Honours Veterinarians behind India’s Livestock Powerhouse

    “Veterinarians Are the Backbone of Rural Economy”: Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel Calls for Stronger Veterinary Infrastructure and Skills in the Livestock Sector

    Need to Focus on Indigenous Breeds, 100% IVF Adoption and Enhancing Veterinary Role in FMD Eradication : Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel

    Posted On: 26 APR 2025 6:40PM by PIB Delhi

    In a tribute to the silent sentinels of India’s livestock economy, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, celebrated the World Veterinary Day 2025 with a National Workshop in New Delhi today.

    The event was inaugurated by Prof. S. P. Singh Baghel, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj, who hailed the veterinary community as the “backbone of rural economy and national biosecurity.” India is home to over 536 million livestock, the largest in the world and nearly 70% of rural households depend on animals for income, food, and security. Yet, the people who ensure those animals remain healthy are rarely in the headlines, he added. Union Minister of State in his address said that “There is no healthy India without healthy animals,” while emphasizing upon the government’s commitment to modernizing veterinary infrastructure, enhancing skill development, and future-proofing India’s animal health systems.  Highlighting this year’s theme, “Animal Health Takes a Team,” he stressed the importance of collaborative efforts among veterinarians, para-veterinary staff, scientists, and public health professionals to ensure integrated animal, human, and environmental health. Prof. Baghel spotlighted key initiatives under the national vaccination program like the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP), which aims to eliminate Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) by 2030, noting that over 114.56 crore FMD vaccines and 4.57 crore Brucellosis vaccines have been administered in the country so far. The NADCP aims to control FMD by 2025 and eradicate it by 2030 with vaccination.

    Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel emphasized the vital role of indigenous breeds of livestock in strengthening the country’s animal husbandry sector. He noted that these breeds are not only well-adapted to local climatic conditions but also play a crucial role in ensuring sustainable and resilient livestock production systems. He stressed the importance of adopting advanced reproductive technologies, particularly the use of sex-sorted semen, goal of achieving 100% use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) to enhance productivity and breed quality. The Union Minister of State praised the use of digital platforms like the National Digital Livestock Mission (Bharat Pashudhan) for traceability and disease monitoring. Addressing the rising threat of zoonotic diseases, he emphasized India’s adoption of the One Health approach, commending veterinarians for their role in disease surveillance, inter-sectoral coordination, and early warning systems to protect public health.

    Joining the national workshop virtually Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) Ms. Alka Upadhyaya called for a comprehensive overhaul of India’s veterinary ecosystem. Speaking at the World Veterinary Day 2025 event, she emphasized that veterinarians have significantly contributed to enhancing livestock productivity, making India the largest dairy producer globally, second in table egg production, and the fourth-largest meat producer. While India has become aatmanirbhar in advanced technologies such as IVF, sex-sorted semen, cattle immunization, and dairy equipment manufacturing, the Secretary highlighted the acute shortage of veterinary professionals across the country. She urged for an increase in veterinary education seats, the establishment of state-of-the-art facilities in veterinary colleges, and a curriculum that provides students with practical expertise in surgeries and livestock medical care. She further advocated for stronger public-private partnerships, and more academic conferences to modernize veterinary education. She also laid emphasis on mainstreaming of animal welfare initiatives while improving productivity.  Addressing the growing threat of zoonotic diseases, Ms. Alka Upadhyaya stressed upon the need for a strong surveillance system, synchronized vaccination programs across states. “Veterinarians are the first line of defense in ensuring national biosecurity,” she concluded.

    Joining virtually from Rome, Dr. Thanawat Tiensin, Assistant Director-General and Chief Veterinarian at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), lauded India’s pivotal role in global One Health efforts, and praised the country’s recent recognition under the Pandemic Fund for Animal Health Preparedness, a major global endorsement of India’s leadership in veterinary public health.

    In his address, Dr. Abhijit Mitra, Animal Husbandry Commissioner and Chairman of the Animal Welfare Board of India, highlighted India’s progress in mass vaccination campaigns, early disease detection, and the use of digital tracking systems to strengthen animal health services. He emphasized the role of veterinarians as the unseen protectors of food systems and crucial defenders against future pandemics. He drew attention to the vital connection between animal welfare and public health, asserting that animal welfare is not just an act of compassion but a fundamental pillar for ensuring food safety and healthier livestock.

    This year’s global theme of World Veterinary Day 2025 is “Animal Health Takes a Team”, underscores the idea that animal health isn’t a solo mission; it’s a collective national effort involving vets, scientists, public health experts and farmers. The event spotlighted the power of collaboration in protecting animal health, recognising that veterinarians, scientists, public health experts, and farmers form an interdependent network that safeguards not only livestock but the health and economy of the nation. The workshop also featured high-impact technical sessions on Use of Generic Medicines in animal husbandry to improve accessibility and affordability, the veterinarian’s role in preventing zoonotic transmission of diseases like avian influenza, strengthening Integrated Disease Surveillance and data sharing between human and animal health sectors alongside an engaging online national quiz, connecting hundreds of young veterinary students to the national conversation.

    The event was also attended by distinguished dignitaries and stakeholders, including, Ms. Varsha Joshi, Additional Secretary, DAHD, Dr. Ramashankar Sinha, Additional Secretary, DAHD along with other senior officials from ICAR, National Veterinary Councils, FAO, WOAH, WHO and Directors of national research institutes and Vice Chancellors of several veterinary universities. The event saw participation from over 250 delegates and was live-streamed across India, attracting more than 3,000 virtual attendees including veterinary professionals, students, researchers, and farmers reflecting growing public awareness and interest in animal health.

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    Aditi Agrawal

    (Release ID: 2124587) Visitor Counter : 51

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Steel is the Backbone of India’s Economy, Coal and Mines Sector is the Strong Foundation on Which it Stands: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy

    Source: Government of India

    Steel is the Backbone of India’s Economy, Coal and Mines Sector is the Strong Foundation on Which it Stands: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy

    Coal Gasification is Being Promoted as an Alternative, with a Target of 100 MT by 2030

    Minister Urges Industry Partners to Actively Engage in Auction of Coking Coal Blocks

    Posted On: 26 APR 2025 2:56PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G. Kishan Reddy, addressed the 6th edition of India Steel, a premier biennial International Exhibition-cum Conference on the steel sector, in Mumbai Today. The International Exhibition-Cum-Conference on Steel served as a significant platform for dialogue among policymakers, industry leaders, academia, researchers, and civil society on the evolving dynamics of the steel sector and its symbiotic relationship with the coal industry.

    In his keynote address, Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G.Kishan Reddy emphasized that steel serves as the backbone of India’s economic progress and a vital enabler of the national vision for Viksit Bharat 2047. He highlighted how India is setting new global benchmarks in infrastructure development, from the Chenab Bridge in Jammu & Kashmir, the world’s highest railway bridge, to the historic Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu—all made possible by the growing strength of the steel sector. Every milestone in the nation’s infrastructure journey, he remarked, is forged in steel—reflecting the momentum and aspirations of a Nation on the move.

     He adds that India’s steel sector has grown at an impressive pace in recent years, positioning the country as the second-largest steel producer globally. Citing the words of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Minister referred to steel as India’s “Sunrise Sector” a key driver of domestic consumption, industrial expansion, and self-reliance through the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan.

    Shri Reddy emphasized that if steel forms the backbone of India’s economy, the coal and mining sector represents the strong foundation on which it rests. He highlighted the importance of raw material security, especially in the context of the current session on Raw Material Strategy and the Shift in Raw Material Mix. Ensuring the availability of critical raw materials like iron ore, coking coal, limestone, and essential alloying elements such as manganese, nickel, and chromium, he noted, is both an economic necessity and a strategic imperative.

    India recently achieved a landmark milestone of 1 BT of coal production and dispatch in the last financial year—a transformative step toward national energy security. Energy Statistics 2025 reveal that coal continues to account for nearly 60% of India’s total energy requirements and 70% of its electricity generation. While efforts to enhance renewable energy are underway, the Minister reaffirmed that coal will remain central to India’s energy and industrial landscape in the foreseeable future.

    Focusing on coking coal, a critical input in steel manufacturing, Shri Reddy pointed out that it constitutes nearly 42% of steel production costs. India currently imports around 85% of its coking coal needs, rendering the industry vulnerable to international price volatility and supply chain disruptions. In response, the Government launched the Mission Coking Coal in 2021, aimed at reducing import dependency, targeting 140MT of domestic production, and increasing blending of domestic coal from 10% to 30% in steelmaking by 2030.

    Key initiatives under this mission include the identification of new exploration areas, boosting output from existing mines, increasing coal washing capacity, and auctioning new coking coal blocks to private enterprises. The adoption of advanced technologies such as Stamp Charging has been encouraged to allow the use of high-ash domestic coal without compromising quality. The mission also aims to build 58 MT of coal washing capacity and supply 23 MT of washed coking coal by 2030.

    The Minister called upon private stakeholders to actively participate in washeries, beneficiation plants, and block auctions. Pulverised Coal Injection (PCI) trials using domestic coal have already shown promise for import substitution, and greater innovation in beneficiation can further improve outcomes.

    Turning to iron ore, the Minister highlighted India’s vast reserves of over 35 BT making it the fifth largest globally. With 263 MT of iron ore produced in FY 2024-25 and 50 MT exported, the country is working to ensure supply keeps pace with growing domestic demand. Currently, we have 179 working iron ore mines, and 126 blocks have been auctioned so far and 38 of them already operational and many more in pipelines. He noted, however, that over 66% of reserves are of medium and low-grade quality and require beneficiation.

     

    To address this, the Ministry of Mines has proposed a policy currently under public consultation to promote low-grade ore beneficiation. Policy reforms, including revised royalty rates for limestone and low-grade ore, are being pursued to encourage private sector involvement.

    The Minister also emphasized the importance of timely utilization of greenfield mines, as reiterated by the Prime Minister. Delays in operationalizing such assets amount to a waste of national resources. The Ministry is working closely with States and regularly reviewing progress with bidders to expedite mine development. Coordination with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has also been enhanced to streamline clearances. Several key guidelines have been issued over the past six months, with further reforms in progress.

    The coal and mining sectors, the Minister stated, are evolving rapidly to align with sustainability goals and India’s climate commitments while reducing import dependence. The government is promoting innovation and embracing a whole-of-government approach to these challenges.

     

    A flagship initiative in this direction is the National Coal Gasification Mission, which aims to achieve 100 MT of gasification by 2030 with an investment of ₹8,500 crore. This initiative promotes the use of high-ash, non-coking domestic coal to generate synthesis gas (syngas), a cleaner alternative for DRI (Direct Reduced Iron) steelmaking. He urged the industry to invest in this transformational technology that not only reduces emissions but also enhances energy security and economic value chains.

    In addition, the Minister called on the mining community to focus on recovery of critical minerals from dumps and tailings to support advanced alloys and green technologies. Testing and recovery from existing dumps must be taken up as a national priority.

    The journey towards a secure, resilient, and sustainable raw material strategy is a collective one. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is progressing on a bold and ambitious path for the steel sector. The National Steel Policy envisions achieving 300 MT of production capacity by 2030-31 and 500 MT by 2047. The Ministry of Coal and the Ministry Mines are fully aligned with this vision and is taking proactive steps to ensure its realization.

    Shri Reddy expressed confidence that through close collaboration between the Centre, State Governments, and industry stakeholders, India will not only meet its raw material requirements domestically but also emerge as a global leader in sustainable, self-reliant steel production. He urged all participants at the conference to contribute actively to shaping policies that will secure a greener and more resilient future for the nation’s steel ecosystem.

    Earlier on the inaugural day, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the event via video conferencing, in the presence of several Union Ministers and Chief Ministers from three States, setting the tone for the importance of collaborative development in the sector.

    On the second day of Steel Expo, Shri Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, participated in the Round Table Interaction on Raw Material Availability in the Steel Sector and highlighted the remarkable shift in the coal sector’s approach. He remarked that the sector is undergoing through a historic paradigm shift from being a legacy sector to becoming a key pillar of the vision Atmanirbhar Bharat. Elaborating on the Ministry’s forward-looking strategy, he pointed out that efforts are being made to raise domestic coking coal production, improve coal washing practices to enhance fuel quality, and promote the adoption of advanced coke-making and gasification technologies to enable cleaner steelmaking. He emphasized that a collaborative approach involving both public and private stakeholders is essential to foster innovation and unlock the full potential of India’s coal reserves.

    Organized by the Ministry of Steel, India Steel Expo 2025 served as a premier platform for global stakeholders to deliberate on key issues pertaining to growth strategies, sustainable practices in steel production, resilience amidst evolving global economic conditions, and the pivotal role of innovation and digital transformation in enhancing industrial competitiveness. The event witnessed a constructive exchange of perspectives, exhibitions of advanced technologies, and comprehensive discussions on resource efficiency and environmental responsibility. The active participation of the Ministry of Coal further underscored the strategic integration of the coal and steel sectors, highlighting their collective commitment to fostering a sustainable, self-reliant, and forward-looking industrial landscape. The presence of prominent domestic and international participants reaffirmed India’s growing stature in shaping the future of the global coal and steel ecosystem.

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    Shuhaib T

    (Release ID: 2124513) Visitor Counter : 124

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SRFTI Film “A Doll Made Up of Clay” Makes Historic Cannes 2025 Entry

    Source: Government of India

    SRFTI Film “A Doll Made Up of Clay” Makes Historic Cannes 2025 Entry

    23-Minute Experimental Film Highlights Cross-Border Collaboration and Global Storytelling Excellence

    Posted On: 26 APR 2025 6:24PM by PIB Delhi

    In a moment of pride for Indian cinema, “A Doll Made Up of Clay”, a student film by the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI), has achieved official selection in the prestigious La Cinef section at the 78th Festival de Cannes 2025. As the only Indian entry in this category, the film marks a significant milestone in India’s cinematic education journey.

    About Film

    Driven by ambition, a young Nigerian athlete sells his father’s land to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer in India. However, a career-ending injury leaves him disillusioned and stranded in an unfamiliar country. Through physical pain, emotional trauma, and an identity crisis, he reconnects with the spiritual traditions of his ancestors, finding redemption and meaning. A Doll Made Up of Clay is a powerful exploration of displacement, loss, and cultural resilience.

    This 23-minute experimental film, produced under SRFTI’s Producing for Film and Television (PFT) department, showcases cross-border collaboration. Produced by Sahil Manoj Ingle, a PFT student, and directed by Kokob Gebrehaweria Tesfay, an Ethiopian student under the ICCR African Scholarship, the film underscores SRFTI’s dedication to global cinematic innovation.

    Receiving an invitation to compete in La Cinef at Cannes, the film highlights emerging talent from top global film schools. The festival takes place in France this May.

     Dreams, Resilience and Global Recognition

    Prof. Sukanta Majumdar (Dean, SRFTI) highlighted that  “Any cinematic expressions of our students, when recognized on a prestigious global platform, make us feel reassured. This is a huge moment of pride for us, and we are very proud of our students. I wish them the very best for the competition.”

    “This project is a shared vision across continents—a story that transcends borders. The Cannes selection is a dream realized and proof of global thinking within SRFTI’s walls,” said producer Sahil Manoj Ingle.

    Director Kokob Gebrehaweria Tesfay added, “This deeply personal story speaks to the journey of dreamers who navigate new challenges, reshaping who they are. Cannes celebrates resilience and untold stories.”

    Global Collaboration:

     The film’s cast and crew represent an exceptional international effort:

     

    • Producer: Sahil Manoj Ingle
    • Writer & Director: Kokob Gebrehaweria Tesfay (Ethiopia)
    • DOP: Vinod Kumar
    • Editor: Haru – Mahmud Abu Naser (Bangladesh)
    • Sound Design: Soham Pal
    • Music Composer: Himangshu Saikih
    • Executive Producer: Uma Kumari & Rohit Kodere
    • Line Producer: Avinash Shankar Rhurve
    • Lead Actor: Ibrahim Ahmed (Nigeria)
    • Casts: Geeta Doshi, Ibrahim Ahmed, Rwitban Acharya

     

    About SRFTI

    Founded in 1995, SRFTI is named after the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray, continuing it’s legacy of empowering new generations of storytellers through excellence in film education.

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    Dharmendra Tewari/ Navin Sreejith

    (Release ID: 2124574) Visitor Counter : 52

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Students and parents should pay attention to the change in weather

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    During the rain and tropical cyclone season, Hong Kong may occasionally be affected by tropical cyclones. These tropical cyclones may bring both strong winds and heavy rainfalls to the region.

    Students and parents are reminded that in the event of tropical cyclones and heavy persistent rain, the Education Bureau (EDB) will announce the class suspension arrangements for that day based on the latest weather information and the conditions of roads, slopes, and traffic. The announcements will be made through the following channels:
    • Radio and televisions
    • Government press releases (https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/today.htm• EDB Website (https://www.edb.gov.hk/• EDB Hotline (Telephone: 2891 0088)
    • Mobile application “GovHK Notifications” (download link:     https://www.gov.hk/en/theme/govhknotifications/• • • At or after 5:00 pm and before 7:00 pm: Evening Schools

    If the above information is disseminated during school hours, schools should continue lessons until the end of normal school hours and ought to ensure that conditions are safe before allowing students to return home. Parents do not need to pick up their children from school immediately. For more information on the combined effect, please refer to the HKO’s online educational resources (

    https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/education/tropical-cyclone/weather-effects-and-impact/00674-Beware-of-Multi-Hazard-Combined-Effect.html).

    As the situations in localised areas may differ from the territory as a whole, parents can exercise their discretion in deciding whether or not to send their children to school if the local weather, roads, slopes or traffic conditions are adverse. Schools will be flexible in handling the affected students who arrive late or are absent from school at parents’ discretion on the day, and such students will not be penalised.

    Weather conditions can change rapidly, so it is important for students and parents to pay close attention to the latest weather conditions provided by the HKO and check if the EDB has announced class suspension before leaving for school and during their journey to ensure safety.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Get ready for the release of HKDSE Examination results

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority will release on 17 July the results of the 2024 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination. To get prepared for this crucial moment, Secondary 6 students should be positive and proactive, keep themselves updated on the information on multiple pathways and plan ahead their way forward.

    The Education Bureau (EDB) will continue to provide students with appropriate support and timely updates on the Designated Webpage for Secondary 6 Students (the Webpage) (https://www.edb.gov.hk/s6/en). The Webpage contains information about various pathways for further studies, such as local bachelor’s degree and sub-degree programmes, vocational and professional education and training programmes, Diploma of Applied Education programmes, non-local courses and further studies in the Mainland and abroad. Students may also utilise the electronic tool “e-Navigator” (https://enavigator.edb.hkedcity.net/main/index.php) on the Webpage to search for local institution programmes for which they meet the minimum entrance requirements and work out an appropriate plan for further studies by inputting their predicted or actual HKDSE Examination results. In addition, the Webpage also provides students with essential information pertaining to the release of the HKDSE Examination results, multiple pathways and counselling and support services. To facilitate students’ and parents’ grasp of the above information, the EDB has updated a series of “Reminders for 2024 HKDSE Exam and Exam Results Release” in which important timelines and reminders are presented in vivid images and concise language.

    To enable parents of Secondary 6 students to get ready for the results release ahead of time, the EDB will organise an online parents’ seminar titled “Get prepared for the Release of HKDSE Examination Results – the Latest Information on Multiple Pathways” on 12 June 2024 (Wednesday). The seminar will cover various topics including the EDB’s support measures for Secondary 6 students, arrangements for the HKDSE results release, procedures for programme choice modification and announcement of results through Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS), and latest information on post-secondary studies and multiple pathways. Enrolment of the seminar is now open. For details, please visit the EDB Parents’ Talks webpage (https://www.edb.gov.hk/parentstalks) (Chinese version only). The presentation slides (Chinese and English versions) and video recording of the seminar will be uploaded to the “One-stop Portal on Articulation to Multiple Pathways‧Transition to Senior Secondary and Post-secondary Education” website (https://www.edb.gov.hk/amp/en) in early July 2024 for public reference.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Smart Parent Net” Recommendation: (Video)24 個品格優點 (Chinese version only); ‘e-Generation Joyful Internet Surfing’ Parent Seminar (5): Know more about Myopia Management under e-Learning & Recognising Online Pitfalls

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    IT in Education Section of EDB, Hong Kong Education City and Committee on Home-School Co-operation will co-organise ‘e-Generation Joyful Internet Surfing’ Parent Seminar (5): Know more about Myopia Management under e-Learning & Recognising Online Pitfalls. The seminar will be held on 8 June 2024 from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm in webinar mode. Cantonese and English sessions will be arranged. Registration is now open (application deadline: 8 June 2024 11:00 am). A resident optometrist from the Optometry Clinic of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University will provide parents with knowledge about protection of vision and offer them methods to prevent myopia in children and reduce its progression, allowing children to maintain ocular health in their daily lives and studies. A senior inspector of police from the Cyber Security Division of the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau (CSTCB) of the Hong Kong Police Force will share with parents strategies to prevent their children from falling prey to cyber pitfalls, and help parents to enhance children’s awareness of digital safety and prevent them from becoming victims of cyber traps. Parents are cordially invited to join the seminar. For details, please refer to the website (https://www.hkedcity.net/eventcalendar/event/66389267cc9f93d2758c0156).

    For enquiries, please contact HKEdCity at 2624 1000 or email to info@hkedcity.net.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ1: Mental health of primary and secondary school students

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ1: Mental health of primary and secondary school students 
    Question:
     
         Last year, the number of suspected student suicide cases reported to the Education Bureau (EDB) by primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong remained high and even hit a record high in the past five years. In addition, self-‍administered questionnaires were collected from 330 000 primary and secondary school students attending the Student Health Service Centres of the Department of Health in the 2022-2023 school year, with results indicating that 1.3 per cent of the students had attempted suicide in the past 12 ‍months. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) as the Government implemented a Three-Tier School-based Emergency Mechanism in all secondary schools in Hong Kong in December last year to address the problem of student suicide, how the EDB assists schools in identifying at an early stage students with mental health needs, and of the number of referral cases received so far by the off-campus support network team and the follow-up situations; whether it has assessed the effectiveness of these two tiers under the mechanism;
     
    (2) of the number of students with severe mental health needs who were referred by school principals under the aforesaid mechanism to receive psychiatric specialist services of the Hospital Authority in the past six months, and the follow-up situations of such cases; and
     
    (3) given the EDB’s call for active participation from primary and secondary schools in the 4Rs Mental Health Charter to be launched in the next school year to enhance students’ mental health, of the number and percentage of schools signing up for joining the charter before the deadline last month?
     
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         Nurturing students with proper values and a positive attitude has all along been the objective of education, and “leading a healthy lifestyle” is one of the goals of school curriculum. The Education Bureau (EDB) attaches great importance to the physical and psychological well-being of students. Through cross-departmental and cross-sectoral collaboration with the Health Bureau (HHB), Department of Health (DH), Social Welfare Department (SWD), Hong Kong Police Force and other non-government organisations (NGOs), we work together to provide support for schools, students and parents. With the efforts of all parties, we can build a more robust safety net for students.
     
         In consultation with the HHB and SWD, my consolidated reply to the question raised by Dr the Hon Tik Chi-yuen is as follows:
     
    (1) and (2) In view of the upward trend of suspected student suicide cases in 2023, the Government has implemented the Three-Tier School-based Emergency Mechanism (the Three-Tier Mechanism) in all secondary schools in Hong Kong from December 2023 to December 2024 through the cross-departmental collaboration of the EDB, HHB and SWD so as to provide support for students with higher risk as early as possible.
     
         Under the Three-Tier Mechanism, schools will give priority to caring for and counselling students with higher risk and will provide timely assistance and seek professional counselling or treatment services for them through the school’s interdisciplinary team in the first-tier. The EDB urges school personnel to refer to A Resource Handbook for Schools: Detecting, Supporting and Making Referral for Students with Suicidal Behaviours published by the EDB to preliminarily identify the more vulnerable students and pay attention to whether they have displayed related warning signs. If necessary, schools may arrange students with higher risk to conduct a preliminary mental health screening by using screening tools, such as Self-test Station: Depressive Mood from the DH and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) from “Shall We Talk”. The interdisciplinary team in schools, which consists of guidance masters/mistresses, guidance personnel, school social workers and school-based educational psychologists, will prioritise and launch follow-up services for students with higher risk. School personnel are recommended to refer to the Guidelines on How Schools can Help Students with Mental Health Problems published by the EDB to provide support to students as soon as possible. In order to strengthen school personnel’s early identification of and support for students with suicidal tendencies, apart from providing guidelines and a 60-hour thematic course on “gatekeeper” training for teachers every year, the EDB also organised online “gatekeeper” training courses for primary and secondary schools in December 2023. About 1 000 school personnel enrolled for the online training course. In addition, the EDB organised more than 40 additional training courses and workshops early this year, with an enhanced focus on enriching school personnel’s knowledge and skills in caring for students with mental health needs. The courses benefited about 2 200 school personnel.
     
         In the second-tier of the mechanism, if the schools consider that they need to seek extra support subsequent to the identification and school-based intervention in the first-tier mechanism, they may seek assistance from the off-campus support network (support network) co-ordinated by the SWD. The SWD has engaged five NGOs to form the support network to provide extra support to schools. Upon receiving referrals, the support network team would contact the students concerned as soon as possible and arrange follow-up services, including emergency intervention services covering assessments, support and counselling through individual, group or online format; and would also refer the students to other services such as the Integrated Family Services, the Integrated Community Centre for Mental Wellness and the Integrated Children and Youth Services Centre according to their individual needs. As of March 2024, the support network team has received a total of 69 referral cases. Besides, the EDB has also collaborated with the SWD to arrange the support network team to visit about 150 secondary schools to organise mental health activities since February this year, with a view to enhancing students’ awareness of mental health, as well as strengthening their adaptability and awareness of help-seeking.
     
         In the third-tier of the mechanism, school principals may refer students with severe mental health needs to the psychiatric specialist services of the Hospital Authority (HA). After triage and screening, the HA will accord priority to students in urgent cases. Furthermore, the HA has set up a telephone consultation hotline specifically to provide professional advice for school principals. As of March 2024, the HA’s psychiatric specialist services received a total of 168 referrals and 75 telephone enquiries from school principals through the Three-Tier Mechanism. Among the referred cases, around 3 per cent were Priority 1 (urgent) category, while about 40 per cent were Priority 2 (semi-urgent) category. The remaining cases were either Routine (stable) or were already being followed up by the HA’s psychiatric specialist services.
     
         Based on our understanding and communication with schools, with the concerted efforts of schools and various stakeholders, school personnel’s awareness on students’ mental health has enhanced in general, being able to early identify and support students with higher risk. The operations of the second-tier and third-tier of the Mechanism are smooth, providing timely and appropriate counselling and treatment to students in need. The Government will closely monitor the operation of the Three-Tier Mechanism and engage a consultant to evaluate its effectiveness.
     
    (3) The EDB launched the 4Rs Mental Health Charter (4Rs Charter) in April this year and invited all public sector and Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools in Hong Kong to join. The 4Rs cover four important elements in fostering students’ mental health, namely Rest, Relaxation, Relationship and Resilience. We hope that the stakeholders’ awareness on mental health will be enhanced and they will work together and take actions through the promotion of 4Rs Charter. Schools participating in the 4Rs Charter are required to set practical and feasible goals and take concrete actions to promote students’ physical and psychological well-being. Schools joining the 4Rs Charter must also pledge to join the Mental Health Workplace Charter, which is jointly implemented by the DH, the Labour Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Council, as well as the Whole School Health Programme launched by the DH, so as to carry on with their school-based health promotion efforts in a more comprehensive and effective manner. The EDB has also been engaging NGOs as partner organisations of the 4Rs Charter to provide schools with additional services, activities and courses to enhance students’ health. As of May 31 2024, a total of 340 primary and secondary schools have applied to join the 4Rs Charter, accounting for 34 per cent of all public sector schools and DSS schools in Hong Kong. We will continue to encourage more schools to join the 4Rs Charter, so as to cultivate a healthy environment that is conducive to students’ growth.

         The EDB will continue to work with various stakeholders to promote mental health in a more comprehensive manner, jointly establish a support network and create a caring culture, so as to promote students’ physical and psychological well-being.
    Issued at HKT 15:34

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India’s Triumph in Combating Poverty

    Source: Government of India

    India’s Triumph in Combating Poverty

    171 Million Lifted from Extreme Poverty in 10 Years, Says World Bank

    Posted On: 26 APR 2025 4:40PM by PIB Delhi

    Introduction

    In one of the most remarkable achievements of the past decade, India has lifted 171 million people out of extreme poverty. The World Bank acknowledges India’s decisive fight against poverty in its Spring 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief. According to the report, the proportion of people living on less than 2.15 US dollars a day, which is the international benchmark for extreme poverty, fell sharply from 16.2 percent in 2011-12 to just 2.3 percent in 2022-23.

    This achievement is a testament to the Government of India’s commitment to inclusive development, focusing on both rural and urban areas. Through targeted welfare schemes, economic reforms, and increased access to essential services, India has made substantial strides in reducing poverty levels. The World Bank’s Spring 2025 Poverty and Equity Brief highlights how these efforts have significantly impacted the lives of millions, narrowing the poverty gap across the country.

     

    Overview of the World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Briefs (PEBs)

    The Poverty and Equity Briefs (PEBs) from the World Bank highlight trends in poverty, shared prosperity, and inequality for over 100 developing countries. Published twice a year for the Spring and Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, these briefs offer a snapshot of a country’s poverty and inequality context, ensuring poverty reduction remains a global priority. Each PEB includes a two-page summary that presents recent developments in poverty reduction, along with updated data on key development indicators.

    These indicators cover various aspects of poverty, including rates of poverty and the total number of poor, using both national poverty lines and international benchmarks ($2.15 for extreme poverty, $3.65 for lower-middle-income, and $6.85 for upper-middle-income). The briefs also include comparative trends in poverty and inequality over time and across countries, a multidimensional poverty measure that accounts for non-monetary deprivations like education and basic services, and inequality measurements using the Gini Index.

     

    Rural and Urban Poverty Reduction

    The World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Brief for India finds that the sharp reduction in extreme poverty has been broad-based, covering both rural and urban areas.

    Key findings:

     

    1. In Rural areas, extreme poverty fell from 18.4 percent in 2011-12 to 2.8 percent in 2022-23.
    2. In Urban centres, extreme poverty reduced from 10.7 percent to 1.1 percent over the same period.

     

    1. The gap between rural and urban poverty shrunk from 7.7 percentage points to 1.7 percentage points, with an annual decline rate of 16 percent between 2011-12 and 2022-23.

     

     

    Strong Gains at Lower-Middle-Income Poverty Line

    The World Bank finds that India has made strong gains in reducing poverty at the lower-middle-income level, measured at 3.65 US dollars per day. Millions have benefited from this broad-based growth across both rural and urban areas.

     

    Key findings:

     

    1. India’s poverty rate at the 3.65 dollars per day line fell from 61.8 percent in 2011-12 to 28.1 percent in 2022-23, lifting 378 million people out of poverty.

     

    1. Rural poverty declined from 69 percent to 32.5 percent, while urban poverty dropped from 43.5 percent to 17.2 percent.

     

    1. The rural-urban poverty gap narrowed from 25 to 15 percentage points, with a 7 percent annual decline between 2011-12 and 2022-23.

     

    Key States Contributing to Poverty Reduction

    The report notes that significant progress has been made in reducing extreme poverty across India, with key states playing a vital role in both the decline of poverty and the advancement of inclusive development.

     

    Key findings:

     

    1. The five most populous states i.e. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh, represented 65 percent of India’s extreme poor in 2011-12.

     

    1. By 2022-23, these states contributed to two-thirds of the overall decline in extreme poverty.

     

    Decline in Multidimensional Poverty and Revised Estimates

    As per World Bank’s report, India has made significant strides in reducing non-monetary poverty, and future poverty estimates are expected to change based on updated global standards.

     

    Key findings:

     

    1. Non-monetary poverty, as measured by the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), which considers factors like education, health, and living conditions, declined from 53.8 percent in 2005-06 to 16.4 percent by 2019-21.

     

    1. The World Bank’s Multidimensional Poverty Measure stood at 15.5 percent in 2022-23, reflecting ongoing improvements in living conditions.

     

    1. With revised international poverty lines (the minimum income needed to meet basic needs) and the adoption of 2021 Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs) (which adjust for differences in living costs between countries), the new poverty rates for 2022-23 are expected to be 5.3 percent for extreme poverty and 23.9 percent for lower-middle-income poverty.
    1. India’s consumption-based Gini index improved from 28.8 in 2011-12 to 25.5 in 2022-23, indicating a reduction in income inequality.

    Employment Growth and Shifts in Workforce Trends

    India has witnessed positive trends in employment growth, particularly since 2021-22, with significant improvements in both rural and urban areas, as highlighted in the World Bank’s report.

    Key findings:

    1. Employment growth has outpaced the working-age population since 2021-22, with rising employment rates, especially among women.

     

    1. Urban unemployment fell to 6.6 percent in Q1 FY24/25, the lowest since 2017-18.

     

    1. Recent data indicates a shift of male workers from rural to urban areas for the first time since 2018-19, while rural female employment in agriculture has grown.

     

    1. Self-employment has risen, particularly among rural workers and women, contributing to economic participation.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, India has made remarkable progress in poverty reduction over the past decade. The Spring 2025 World Bank’s Poverty and Equity Brief highlights these achievements. It underscores the country’s commitment to inclusive development. The sharp decline in both extreme and lower-middle-income poverty, along with the narrowing rural-urban poverty gap, reflects the effective efforts of the Government of India. Additionally, the rise in employment, especially among women, and the reduction in multidimensional poverty point to broader improvements in living standards. As India continues its journey, these achievements serve as a solid foundation for sustained progress in tackling poverty and inequality.

     

    References:

    1. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099722104222534584/pdf/IDU-25f34333-d3a3-44ae-8268-86830e3bc5a5.pdf
    2. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/poverty/publication/poverty-and-equity-briefs
    3. https://x.com/mygovindia/status/1915754422560346536

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    Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Saurabh Kalia

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Primary One Central Allocation results to be posted to parents from June 5 to June 6

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The results of the Central Allocation for Primary One Admission (POA) 2024 will be mailed to parents from Wednesday to Thursday (June 5 to 6).

    Parents who completed the Choice of Schools Form for the Central Allocation on or before January 28 this year will receive the Primary One Registration Form delivered from June 5 to 6 through the Local CourierPost service provided by Hongkong Post. If door delivery by Hongkong Post fails, a Mail Collection Notification Card will be left for parents to collect it from the designated post office starting from the afternoon of the following working day. If parents have not received the Primary One Registration Form or the Mail Collection Notification Card issued by Hongkong Post by June 7, they could collect the Primary One Registration Form at the designated collection centre from June 8 to 9 (please refer to the EDB’s POA System webpage for details then).Parents are required to register their child with the school allocated from June 11 to 13 (Tuesday to Thursday) during school hours.Should parents decide to give up the place allocated because of special circumstances, such as moving to another district far from the school allocated, they should not register their child with the school allocated. Under such circumstances, they are advised to go to the EDB’s School Places Allocation Section, Podium Floor, West Block, Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre, 19 Suffolk Road, Kowloon Tong, Kowloon, to make necessary arrangements for transfer. They should bring along the Primary One Registration Form, the original and copies of documents showing proof of the new address (such as a rental contract, rates demand notes, or water or electricity bills bearing the name of the parent or the guardian of the child).

    Any parent who finds it necessary to transfer his/her child to another school after registration is strongly advised to obtain an assurance of acceptance from that school before retrieving the Primary One Registration Form from the original school because retrieval of the registration form means cancellation of the allocated school place.

    In case of inclement weather or other special circumstances during the period for the announcement of results or on any day(s) designated for registration, parents should pay attention to announcements on radio and television for special arrangements for Central Allocation or registration.

    Enquiries

    Parents wishing to obtain general information regarding POA procedures can call the EDB’s 24-hour automatic telephone enquiry service at 2891 0088. Further enquiries can be made to the School Places Allocation Section at 2832 7610 (for Hong Kong Island and Islands), 2832 7620 (for Kowloon), 2832 7635 (for New Territories West), 2832 7659 (for New Territories East) and 2832 7700/2832 7740 (for general enquiries) during office hours, as well as from 9am to 4.30pm on June 8 (Saturday) and June 9 (Sunday).

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SCST to visit UAE and Saudi Arabia

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SCST to visit UAE and Saudi Arabia 
    Miss Law will visit the UAE from April 27 to 30, during which she will attend the Arabian Travel Market 2025. She will also meet with relevant government officials, trade representatives, and cultural and tourism organisations. On May 1, she will continue her visit to Saudi Arabia.
     
    Miss Law will depart for Hong Kong on the night of May 1 (Thursday). During her absence, the Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau, will be the Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism.
    Issued at HKT 16:00

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: AMS anniversary open day held

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) today held an open day event to celebrate the 75th anniversary of its establishment, with activities aimed at enhancing the public’s awareness of national security and deepening their understanding of its services.
     
    Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau said at the event that the AMS provides a wide range of services to the public, such as participation in anti-epidemic operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and deployment to hospitals to assist healthcare professionals during the influenza seasons.
     
    The other regular duties of the AMS consists of giving first aid coverage during large-scale public events, in country parks and cycling tracks during weekends and public holidays.
     
    He added that training of the AMS has well-equipped its members to respond to challenges involving national security risks and emergencies such as “biosecurity” and “nuclear security” at any time.
     
    The open day activities included game booths, medical seminars, health screenings, healthcare professional symposiums and display of emergency vehicles, giving the visitors access to health information and insights into developments in healthcare professions.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Smart Parent Net” Recommendation:(Video) Learning Support from Non-Chinese Speaking Parents

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region 3

    Non-Chinese-speaking parents face many challenges when supporting their children’s learning. Ms. Sukhwant’s son Harry shared his difficulties in choosing subjects and learning Chinese. Ms. Venkatesh discussed the challenges she and her daughter face in learning Chinese. Both Ms. Sukhwant and Ms. Venkatesh believe that actively participating in their children’s education and understanding their needs is crucial.

    [embedded content]

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: The Department of Health will launch the “Primary Dental Co-care Pilot Scheme for Adolescents” (PDCC) on March 20

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Programme BackgroundFor eligible person aged below 16, a substitute decision maker (SDM) should register eHealth for him/her.

    Co-payment

    The Government will provide a partial subsidy of $200 annually. The Scheme Participant is required to pay the co-payment fee determined by the dentist upon enrolment to the Programme. The Government recommended $200 as the co-payment fee additionally charged by the dentist. The Scheme Participant should pay the co-payment fee directly to his/ her dentist.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: The Central Allocation Stage of the Primary One Admission (POA) will commence soon

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Central Allocation Stage of the Primary One Admission 2025 Cycle will commence soon.  Parents whose children (including children who intend to commute daily to schools in Hong Kong) have not secured a discretionary place should make their choice of schools within the period from January 13 to January 19.

    In line with the Smart Government strategy, the Education Bureau (EDB) has fully implemented digitalisation of the POA.  Parents who have registered as POA e-Platform (ePOA) users and have bound their account to “iAM Smart+” may submit the Choice of Schools Form for Central Allocation from January 13 to January 19 through the ePOA.  Please refer to the related videos and Parent’s Guide on the EDB homepage (www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/poa_eplatform/index.html) for details of the procedures for activating and logging in an ePOA account and for making school choices for the Central Allocation of POA via the e-Platform. The EDB has also prepared a new promotional video to let parents better understand the functions and advantages of the ePOA.  Parents may view the video through the link (www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6FDp75y13s).

    The EDB will send letters to parents on January 8 inviting them to make their choice of schools.  To cater for the needs of different parents, parents can still submit the Choice of Schools Form in paper form by visiting the designated Central Allocation Centre at the suggested time slot (i.e. 9.30am to 12.30pm or 1.30pm to 4.30pm on January 18 (Saturday) or 9.30am to 12.30pm on January 19 (Sunday)) stated in the letter.

    Parents who are ePOA users may choose to submit the Central Allocation Application via the ePOA or in paper form to the Central Allocation Centre but should not submit duplicate applications. Parents who have not yet received the letter by January 13 should call the School Places Allocation Section of the EDB (Hotline: 2832 7700) as soon as possible.

    Only one parent of an applicant child is required to complete the school choice-making procedures.  Parents are advised not to take their children to the Central Allocation Centre where possible.  Parents who cannot make school choices within the suggested time slot can go to the designated Central Allocation Centre from 1.30pm to 4.30pm on January 19.  The Choice of Schools Form will be sent together with the letter to parents who submitted a paper Application Form at the Discretionary Places stage for filling in advance.

    In the event of adverse weather or other special conditions on any day during the period of making school choices, please pay heed to radio or television announcements on the relevant special arrangements.

    For individual parents who are unable to use the ePOA or go to the Central Allocation Centre to make school choices, they can authorise in writing a representative to bring the completed Choice of Schools Form and their signed Letter of Authorisation to proceed with the related procedures.

    To apply for POA 2025 after January 19, parents need to complete necessary procedures with the School Places Allocation Section, which will separately arrange P1 places for the applicant children in June.

    Parents who have recently moved their residence or have such plans in the near future are required to inform the School Places Allocation Section as soon as possible so that they can make school choices in the POA School Net where their new home is located.  Parents should fill in the actual residential address of their child. If they provide a false address for securing a P1 place, the POA application of their child will be rendered void and the P1 place allocated will be withdrawn.

    The EDB has put in place a monitoring mechanism to verify the residential addresses of applicant children as given by the parents.  Random checks have also been stepped up.  The public may call the School Places Allocation Section to report suspected cases of using a false address for POA application.  The EDB will take action against false address cases.

    For information about the procedures for Central Allocation, please call the EDB’s 24-hour automatic telephone enquiry service at 2891 0088.

    For parents who have already activated their ePOA account via “iAM Smart” or “iAM Smart+”, they will receive their Central Allocation results through the ePOA from 10am on June 4.  Parents who wish to receive the allocation results via SMS on June 4 may choose such an option in the Choice of Schools Form.  In addition, the allocation results will be sent to parents by post from June 4 to 5. 

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Smart Parent Net” Recommendation: (Video) 人工智能如何幫助學生學習？(Chinese version only); SCOLAR Biliteracy and Trilingualism Campaign 2025 – “One-minute Video Production Competition” Open for Registration

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Since its establishment, the Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR) has been committed to enabling the people of Hong Kong to become biliterate and trilingual.  To further raise the public’s attention and interest in biliteracy and trilingualism, SCOLAR continues to launch the “Biliteracy and Trilingualism Campaign” (the Campaign) this year and organise a series of activities for schools and the community in collaboration with our programme partners, with an aim of encouraging students to develop their language proficiency beyond classroom and creating a social atmosphere that promotes the effective use of biliteracy and trilingualism.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Embracing the e+ Internet Generation Parent Seminar (3): Together in Spine Health Awareness of Online Pitfalls”; “Smart Parent Net” Recommendation: 創意不是天賦︰家長如何啟動孩子創意Mode?(Chinese version only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region 3

    The Education Bureau, Hong Kong Education City, and Committee on Home-School Co-operation will co-organise the “Embracing the e+ Internet Generation Parent Seminar (3): Together in Spine Health Awareness of Online Pitfalls”. The seminar will be held on 21 February 2025 from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm in webinar mode. Registration is now open (application deadline: 20 February 2025 5:00 pm). An Associate Professor from the School of Chinese Medicine at the CUHK will guide parents on how to check their children’s scoliosis and provide spinal care tips for daily life and online learning. A Senior Inspector from Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau of Hong Kong Police Force will present real-life cases of online pitfalls encountered by students and offer practical advice on safeguarding children from these dangers. Parents are cordially invited to join the seminar. For details, please refer to the website (https://www.hkedcity.net/eventcalendar/event/6796dd260646124d1bbefcac).

    For enquiries, please contact HKEdCity at 2624 1078 or email to carman@hkecl.net / info@hkedcity.net.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ11: Student financial assistance schemes for tertiary students

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region 3

    LCQ11: Student financial assistance schemes for tertiary students 
    Question:
     
    Regarding the various student financial assistance schemes (SFASs) administered by the Student Finance Office (SFO) of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency, including (i) the Tertiary Student Finance Scheme—Publicly-funded Programmes, (ii) the Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students, (iii) the Non-means-tested Loan Scheme for Full-time Tertiary Students, (iv) the Non-means-tested Loan Scheme for Post-secondary Students and (v) the Extended Non-means-tested Loan Scheme, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) among the students enrolled in recognised University Grants Committee-funded or publicly-funded programmes in each of the past five academic years, of the respective numbers of students who had successfully applied for the aforesaid SFASs and the percentages of those who had been granted full level of assistance, as well as the respective total amounts involved;
     
    (2) of the respective numbers of default cases of the aforesaid SFASs (i.e. cases with two or more consecutive overdue quarterly instalments/six or more consecutive overdue monthly instalments) and the average amounts in default in such cases in each of the past five academic years, as well as the respective total amounts in default and their percentages in the total amount of loans granted under the schemes concerned;
     
    (3) in respect of the default cases of the aforesaid SFASs in each of the past five academic years, of the respective numbers of (i) letters issued to loan borrowers by the Department of Justice before legal proceedings were initiated or judgments were obtained, and cases where Charging Orders, Writs of Fieri Facia and Garnishee Orders were enforced, and (ii) cases in which the SFO wrote off the outstanding loans, as well as the respective total amounts of such write-offs and their percentages in the total amount of the loans;
     
    (4) whether it will consider further lowering the annual interest rates of the loans under the aforesaid SFASs and extending the standard loan repayment period, so as to alleviate the burden of loan borrowers; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (5) whether it has provided further support measures for students who are unable to repay loans under the aforesaid SFASs due to financial pressure, including allowing them to suitably defer the repayment and opt for Individual Voluntary Arrangement under reasonable circumstances, so as to help them tide over difficulties; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (6) as there are views that the continuous rising trend of students defaulting on loan repayments under the aforesaid SFASs may be related to their poor financial management, whether the Government will allocate additional resources to enhance financial management education in schools, so as to help students in making proper financial planning; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         The Government’s policy on student finance is to ensure that no student is denied access to education due to a lack of means. The Student Finance Office (SFO) of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency currently administers five student financial assistance schemes for post-secondary and tertiary students, including two means-tested financial assistance schemes (namely the Tertiary Student Finance Scheme – Publicly-funded Programmes and the Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students which provide grants and/or living expenses loans) and three non-means-tested loan schemes (namely the Non-means-tested Loan Scheme for Full-time Tertiary Students, the Non-means-tested Loan Scheme for Post-secondary Students and the Extended Non-means-tested Loan Scheme which provide loans to applicants for paying tuition fees).
     
         Our reply to the questions raised by Reverend Canon the Hon Peter Douglas Koon is as follows:
     
    (1) Registered full-time students taking up an exclusively University Grants Committee-funded or publicly-funded student place of recognised post-secondary programmes may apply for financial assistance under the Tertiary Student Finance Scheme – Publicly-funded Programmes or the Non-means-tested Loan Scheme for Full-time Tertiary Students. The relevant figures of these two schemes in the 2020/21 to 2024/25 academic years are set out at Annex I.
     
    (2) Cases with two or more consecutive overdue quarterly instalments/six or more consecutive overdue monthly instalments are regarded as default cases. Figures relating to student loan default under the five student financial assistance schemes in the 2020/21 to 2024/25 academic years are set out at Annex II.
     
    (3) If loan repayers do not respond or settle the arrears after the SFO’s repeated reminders and urge, the SFO will proceed to take legal recovery actions on the defaulted loan accounts. In addition, the SFO will only consider writing off outstanding loans when the defaulted amounts are confirmed to be irrecoverable (for example when the loan borrower concerned has deceased while his/her indemnifier is unable to repay the loan, or both the loan borrower and his/her indemnifier are bankrupt). Figures relating to legal recovery actions and write-offs under the five student financial assistance schemes in the 2020/21 to 2024/25 academic years are set out at Annex III.
     
    (4) and (5) The means-tested financial assistance schemes provide non-repayable grants to students for meeting their tuition fees and academic expenses, as well as low-interest loans for meeting their living expenses. The interest rate of the loans concerned is currently set at 1 per cent per annum.
     
         The non-means-tested loan schemes provide loans for students who do not intend to undergo or fail to pass the means tests for paying their tuition fees. The schemes concerned are operated according to the principles of “no-gain-no-loss (NGNL)” and “full-cost recovery”. The interest rate is also derived on a NGNL basis and comprises a risk-adjusted-factor rate (reduced to zero since July 2012), and will be adjusted regularly or in response to changes in the market interest rates in accordance with the established mechanism. The current interest rate of non-means-tested loans is 1.795 per cent per annum, which is far below the interest rate for unsecured loans in the market in general. A further reduction of the annual interest rate may result in abuse of the schemes, encourage unnecessary borrowing and increase the future repayment burden of students. Furthermore, subsidising further reductions with taxpayers’ money will deviate from the intent of the schemes and principle of prudent finance.
     
    In respect of repayment arrangements, the standard repayment period has already been extended to 15 years having regard to the repayment burden of loan borrowers. Moreover, new graduates can choose to commence loan repayment one year after graduation. Loan borrowers with proven repayment difficulties (e.g. financial hardship, further full-time study or serious illness) may apply to defer repayment of their loans without interest for up to a maximum of two years, meaning that the repayment period of the borrowers concerned can be up to 17 years.
     
    Furthermore, to ease the financial burden of student loan repayers amid the COVID-19 epidemic, the Government has been providing an interest-free deferral arrangement for loan repayment for five years from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2025, (suspension period). In other words, the entire repayment period can be up to 22 years. Eligible student loan repayers are not required to repay the principal and instalment interest payable during the suspension period. The annual administrative fee chargeable on all loan repayment accounts under the non-means-tested loan schemes is also waived at the same time. New loan repayers who have graduated or completed their studies during the suspension period may choose to further defer the commencement of loan repayment for a maximum of one year after March 31, 2025.
     
    For loan borrowers with genuine difficulties in repaying their loans, the SFO will provide assistance on a case-by-case basis, such as working out adjustments to the repayment plan, or allowing them to opt for Individual Voluntary Arrangement under the Bankruptcy Ordinance.
     
    (6) The SFO has all along been promoting education on financial management, and reminding applicants to carefully consider their needs and repayment abilities before applying for and deciding to take out the loans. The SFO also updates information on its website from time to time to promote the message of financial prudence, credit management and responsible borrowing, as well as the possible consequences of default in loan repayment, so as to strengthen the deterrent effects.
     
    The SFO also collaborates with various post-secondary institutions. Apart from communicating with their student affairs offices from time to time to provide them with the latest information on loan application and messages about financial management for students, the SFO also distributes relevant promotional materials to institutions for use in their annual student activities. This helps instil a prudent attitude towards financial management in students while reminding them of the points to note in making applications under the financial assistance schemes for post-secondary and tertiary students.
     
    In addition, in collaboration with the Investor and Financial Education Council (IFEC), the SFO promotes, through its website, the IFEC’s financial education platform “The Chin Family” and its annual financial education campaign “Hong Kong Money Month”, to provide financial management information to student loan applicants and their parents, and educate them about the importance of early financial planning.
    Issued at HKT 15:37

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Education Bureau alerts schools to fake Facebook account

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region 3

    The Education Bureau (EDB) called on schools to stay vigilant against a fake Facebook account appearing online pretending to be the Secretary for Education (SED) to avoid being scammed.  The relevant clarification post is appended.

    The EDB clarifies that SED has no connection with the fake account concerned.  It has reported the case to the Police.

    Please note that the link of SED’s Facebook page is www.facebook.com/ylchoi.hk  (page name: 蔡若蓮 Christine Choi), which bears a blue tick verification badge.

    Education Bureau

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors – Undergraduate (including Top-up Degree) Programmes

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region 3

    The Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors (SSSDP) will subsidise a total of 4 916 places in 55 undergraduate programmes, covering 3 365 places in 55 first-year-first-degree (FYFD) programmes and 1 551 places in 44 top-up degree (TUD) programmes of eight post-secondary institutions (including Hong Kong Chu Hai College, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Saint Francis University, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Tung Wah College, UOW College Hong Kong and Vocational Training Council – Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong) for the cohort to be admitted in the 2025/26 academic year.

    The programmes and number of subsidised places, which fall under ten disciplines with keen manpower demand, namely architecture and engineering, computer science, creative industries, financial technology, health care, insurance, logistics, sports and recreation, testing and certification, and tourism and hospitality, are determined by the Education Bureau in consultation with relevant policy bureaux and departments. The programmes include the eight applied degrees introduced under the Pilot Project on the Development of Applied Degree Programmes, which will receive additional subsidies, with a view to further strengthening the vocational and professional education and training progression pathway at the post-secondary level.

    In the 2025/26 academic year, the annual subsidy amounts for non-laboratory-based programmes and laboratory-based programmes are up to $46,780 and $81,450 respectively. For applied degree programmes, with the additional annual subsidies, the total annual subsidy amounts will be up to $89,620 for laboratory-based applied degree programmes and $51,880 for non-laboratory-based applied degree programmes. The subsidy amounts are applicable to both new and continuing eligible students. The subsidy is tenable for the normal duration of the programmes concerned. Subsidised students will pay a tuition fee with the subsidy applied. Students in need may still apply for student financial assistance from the Student Finance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency in respect of the actual amount of tuition fee payable.

    Allocation of the subsidised first-year intake of the FYFD programmes will mainly go through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS); participating institutions are allowed to admit non-JUPAS local students via direct admission of no more than 20% of the subsidised places of each designated programme, and the non-JUPAS admission may take place in parallel with JUPAS admission. Non-JUPAS local applicants should refer to the relevant institutions’ websites for their admission arrangements including the commencement date and deadline of the application.

    The subsidised places of the TUD programmes are allocated according to existing admission arrangements of the self-financing TUD programmes, i.e. through direct admission by institutions.

    For details of the SSSDP, please visit www.cspe.edu.hk/sssdp .

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ20: Planning for vacant kindergarten premises

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region 3

    LCQ20: Planning for vacant kindergarten premises 
    Question:
     
         It has been reported that nearly 80 kindergartens in Hong Kong have ceased operation in the past four years, and some of the premises of these kindergartens are located in public housing estates or government properties. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the statistics on kindergartens ceasing operation in the past five years, including geographical distribution, floor areas of the involved premises, and whether the premises concerned are government properties (including those of the Hong Kong Housing Authority); if the premises concerned are government properties, of their current or planned uses;
     
    (2) given the persistent low birth rate and population ageing in Hong Kong, whether the Government will consider converting some of the vacant kindergarten premises in its possession to elderly homes or other elderly facilities; if not, of the reasons for that; and
     
    (3) given that the Government had announced in the 2019-20 Budget that it would allocate $20 billion to purchase properties for accommodating welfare facilities, but as of March 31, 2023, the Social Welfare Department had only used about $150 million of that funding for such purposes, and there are views that the measure is obviously ineffective, whether the Government will first make good use of the aforesaid vacant kindergarten premises for welfare purposes and consider reallocating all or part of the aforesaid funding for other purposes?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         Kindergartens (KGs) in Hong Kong are all along privately run with diverse modes of operation. Individual school sponsoring bodies (SSBs) or operators may, having regard to their different development targets and circumstances, consider setting up KGs at a variety of premises, such as self-owned premises, privately-leased premises or premises in public housing estates. Every year, there may be new registrations of KGs in different districts, or some KGs may decide to cease operation owing to a variety of factors (such as profitability and tenancy matters).
     
         Having consulted the Housing Bureau and the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the consolidated reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
     
    (1) The number of KGs which ceased operation in the past five school years is tabulated at Annex 1. The number of vacant KG premises located in non-domestic premises under the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) upon termination of the tenancy and surrender of the premises is tabulated at Annex 2.
     
         If the tenant of a KG premises located in a public housing estate ceases to operate the KG during the tenancy period or decides not to renew the tenancy upon expiry, the HA will notify and invite the Education Bureau (EDB) to consider whether there is a need to nominate new non-profit-making KG SSBs or operators to rent the relevant units. Factors to be considered include the supply of and demand for KG places in the areas concerned, whether the floor area, location and building condition of the vacant KG premises are suitable for reallocation for KG development. Upon confirmation that the vacant KG premises are not required for EDB Kindergarten Premises Allocation Exercise through which SSBs or operators are nominated to rent the vacant units at a concessionary rate (approximately half of the market rent), the HA will offer such vacant units for lease at market rent through open tender for other organisations to operate KGs. If the units cannot be leased out through open tender for KG operation, the HA will consider converting the units for other uses (including welfare purposes) so as to make good use of resources. Any proposed change of use of the units will be subject to the outcome of feasibility studies, including whether it is in compliance with the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) and relevant regulations, land use restrictions, planning restrictions, environmental factors and views of residents or stakeholders.
     
    (2) To address the increasing demand for elderly services arising from an ageing population, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) increases the supply of subsidised residential care places through a multi-pronged approach, such as liaising with relevant departments to identify suitable sites for the construction of new contract residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), or converting vacant government premises/school sites into RCHEs. Nonetheless, KG premises are not suitable for the provision of RCHEs as their settings and facilities are generally speaking not designed for providing residential care services for frail elderly persons.
     
    (3) The Government has all along been adopting a multi-pronged approach to identify suitable sites or premises for the provision of welfare services to meet their acute demand.
     
         The SWD has been maintaining close contact with relevant departments to identify suitable sites in the development or redevelopment of public housing estates and urban renewal projects for providing welfare facilities. The Government also endeavours to increase the provision of welfare facilities as appropriate through the Land Sale Programmes and the Special Scheme on Privately Owned Sites for Welfare Uses. In addition, the Government will make the best use of available government accommodation including vacant school premises and explore whether they are suitable for conversion into welfare facilities.
     
         In parallel, the SWD identifies suitable premises for purchase in the private market for welfare purpose. As at end-November 2024, the SWD has spent about $240 million for the purchase of five premises for operating a Parents/Relatives Resource Centre, a Support Centre for Persons with Autism and a neighbourhood elderly centre, and for providing on-site pre-school rehabilitation services. The progress of purchasing premises depends on the availability of suitable properties in the market and various external factors, including whether the properties for sale have fire safety and barrier-free access facilities, whether the size and location meet operational requirements, whether the surrounding land uses are compatible with welfare uses, and whether the selling prices fall within the acceptable price range determined by the Government Property Agency (GPA) with reference to market value. The SWD and the GPA will continue to identify and purchase premises for the provision of welfare facilities in accordance with the ambit of the funds approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council.
    Issued at HKT 14:25

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ16: Monitoring of operation of international schools

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ16: Monitoring of operation of international schools 
    Question:
     
         Regarding the monitoring of the operation of international schools, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) as it has been reported that the parents of students of an international kindergarten originally intended to cease operation at the end of July this year have been notified that the kindergarten may continue to operate with the current governing team in the next school year, whether any international schools and kindergartens, having applied for cessation of operation, have been approved by the authorities to continue operation in the past five years; if so, of the number, details and vetting and approval criteria of such cases;
     
    (2) whether the Education Bureau (EDB) ultimately invoked section ‍14(1)(i) of the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279) in the past five years to refuse to register an international school due to the fact that the composition of the proposed management committee or incorporated management committee was such that the school might not be managed satisfactorily; if so, of the number and details of such cases;
     
    (3) as it is reported that a number of international schools plan to increase tuition fees by four per cent to eight per cent in the next school year, of the specific role of the EDB in the determination of the rate of tuition fee adjustments and the financial arrangements by such schools and their sponsoring bodies; and
     
    (4) as it has been reported that in January 2020, the Office of The Ombudsman issued a direct investigation report criticising the EDB for not setting up an approval mechanism in respect of the collection of charges other than tuition fees by international schools (e.g. ‍construction fees and the requirement for parents to purchase debentures) over the years, and in June 2020, the then Secretary for Education indicated that international schools had to seek the EDB’s approval for collection of such charges starting from the 2020‍/2021‍ school year, of the implementation situation and progress of the relevant measure?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         The education system in Hong Kong provides parents with diversified and high-quality choices. Apart from publicly-funded schools, private schools (including international schools) in Hong Kong have been playing a unique role in offering local and non-local curricula according to their mission. In particular, the Government is committed to developing a vibrant international school sector to meet the demand for international school places from non-local families living in Hong Kong and families coming to Hong Kong for work or investment. In the 2023/24 school year, there are 54 international schools (including one special school) in Hong Kong which admit 42 100 students, accounting for 6.4 per cent of some 650 000 primary and secondary students in Hong Kong. Apart from international schools, there are about 100 other private schools (Note) in Hong Kong.
     
    (1) According to the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279) (the Ordinance), all schools must be registered with the Education Bureau (EDB). To obtain the registration for offering education, schools must comply with the regulations prescribed in the Ordinance in respect of the premises, safety, management and teaching staff. In the event that a school has ceased operation and cancelled its registration, any relevant persons intending to reopen a school at the old premises must submit application to the EDB for registration of a new school according to the relevant regulations. On the contrary, if a school has not ceased operation or cancelled its registration, there is no need to apply for school registration again. However, applications for a change in the school name and management of the school such as the school supervisor, the school manager and/or the school principal, have to be submitted to the EDB and obtain approval in accordance with the Ordinance before commencing operation.
     
    (2) Schools have to comply with the relevant statutory requirements upon school registration. From our record, the EDB did not exercise the power under the concerned provision of the Ordinance to refuse applications for school registration in the past five years.
     
    (3) In accordance with Regulation 65 of the Education Regulations (Cap. 279A), no change in fees shall be made by all schools (including international schools) without the prior written approval of the EDB. Schools which plan to adjust their school fees in the new school year are required to apply to the EDB. Private schools (including international schools) are self-financing and market-driven in their operation. The EDB will critically consider justifications provided by the schools (e.g. rent increase, salary adjustment of school staff, employment of additional teachers, purchase of teaching materials and major repair works, etc), the schools’ financial position, as well as the schools’ communication with parents on the relevant issues and response to parents’ concerns when examining the applications.
     
    (4) The EDB had been actively following up on the recommendations made in the Ombudsman (OMB)’s report of January 2020 about establishing the more comprehensive application and approval mechanism regarding other charges (such as debentures, capital levies and fees for nomination rights) collected by private schools (including international schools). As it took time to establish a more comprehensive mechanism, the EDB had first introduced the transitional arrangement in the 2020/21 school year, allowing private schools which wished to continue collecting other charges for the 2020/21 school year to submit applications to the EDB. The EDB would examine the information submitted by the schools before granting the time-limited approval.
     
         In the meantime, the EDB established the “Advisory Committee on Processing Applications for Collection of Capital Levies/Debentures/Nomination Rights” (the Committee), with members who were professional accountants, to formulate the more comprehensive application and approval mechanism to regulate the collection of other charges by private schools for long-term school development. The EDB also met with representatives of private schools with a view to understanding their operations. Following the recommendations of the Committee, the EDB issued the circular to private schools on August 22, 2023, to promulgate the implementation details of the application and approval mechanism for collection of other charges by private schools and started handling applications according to the new mechanism with effect from that date. On August 29, 2023, the EDB conducted a briefing session to give details of the mechanism to school representatives. Furthermore, after being informed of our work progress, the OMB concluded that the EDB had implemented the recommendations made in its investigation report.
     
    Note: “Other private schools” refer to private ordinary primary and secondary day schools registered with the Education Bureau. They include day schools offering local or non-local curriculum day courses but not special schools and primary and secondary day courses operated by private schools offering tutorial, vocational and adult education courses.
    Issued at HKT 12:48

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ19: Parent education

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ19: Parent education 
    Question:
     
         There are views that, in comparison with school education, family education is equally or even more important for the learning and growth of school children, but not every parent knows how to properly and effectively teach their children. In addition, it is learnt that while at present the Government relies primarily on the Education Bureau (EDB) to promote parent education, and EDB has adopted the approach of regarding “schools as a primary platform and the community as a complementary” in implementing parent education, schools differ in terms of motivation, effectiveness and content focus in the promotion of parent education. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the policy measures introduced and amount of resources allocated by the Government in recent years for the promotion of parent education; among such policy measures, of the respective numbers of those implemented through schools, other non-school organisations, and directly by government departments;
     
    (2) regarding the implementation of parent education by primary and secondary schools, how the authorities monitor the relevant quantity, quality, and effectiveness;
     
    (3) whether it has compiled statistics on the participation rates in parent education provided by primary and secondary schools across the territory, and the number of parents of school-age students who have never taken part in any parent education in the past five years; of its plans in place to increase the participation rates of such parents;
     
    (4) apart from written circulars and the Parents’ Day normally held once every academic year, whether the Government will encourage schools to maintain communication and contact with parents through more frequent and diversified modes in respect of the learning and growth of students, including making good use of communication technologies such as video conferencing; and
     
    (5) as it is learnt that some primary and secondary schools have provided national security education to parents through talks and other means in recent years, of the number of such activities and the participation rates of parents; whether the Government will further step up the relevant work, including enhancing the contents, frequencies and participation rates of such activities, as well as providing more assistance to schools and related organisations, so as to raise parents’ sense of national identity and awareness of patriotism?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         Parents are the pivotal figures in nurturing, safeguarding and educating children, playing crucial roles in supporting children’s development and learning as well as fostering their proper values, positive attitude and behaviour. Therefore, the Government has long been promoting parent education through the Education Bureau (EDB) and other government bureaux.
     
         Having consulted the Health Bureau, the consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Tony Tse is as follows:
     
    (1) The EDB has all along been adopting the approaches of “parent-based” and “schools as a primary platform and the community as a complementary” to promote parent education through diversified means. To enable parents to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills for nurturing their children in a more systematic manner, the EDB commissioned a post-secondary institution to develop the curriculum frameworks on parent education for parents of students at different learning stages. The EDB introduced the Curriculum Frameworks on Parent Education for kindergarten (KG), primary school and secondary school in 2021, 2022 and May 2024 respectively (collaboratively named as the “Curriculum Frameworks”). All the Curriculum Frameworks have been uploaded onto the EDB’s website for schools’ and relevant organisations’ reference.   
     
         At school level, the EDB provided KGs joining the Kindergarten Education Scheme with an additional one-off subsidy of $90,000 to $100,000 in the 2021/22 school year, and a one-off grant on parent education of $200,000 for all publicly-funded primary and secondary schools in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 school years respectively to support schools to embark on structured school-based parent education programmes or activities having regard to the Curriculum Frameworks and the needs of parents and students. Besides, all public-sector schools have set up Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), and the Committee on Home-School Co-operation has been assisting the Government in providing the “Subsidy for Home-School Co-operation Activities” and the “Subsidy for Joint Home-School Co-operation Project” for PTAs, encouraging PTAs to organise diversified school-based home-school co-operation and parent education activities or programmes with reference to the Curriculum Frameworks. To further enhance the support for schools, starting from the 2023/24 school year, the EDB has developed resource packages for primary and secondary schools based on the Curriculum Frameworks in phases to facilitate teachers, social workers and guidance personnel of schools in mastering the relevant knowledge and skills. 
     
         At territory level, starting from the 2022/23 school year, the EDB has commissioned post-secondary institutions and non-governmental organisations to organise territory-wide or district-based parent education courses and talks for parents and grandparents of KG and primary students with reference to the Curriculum Frameworks, and produce electronic learning resources to facilitate parents’ self-learning. The EDB has also been implementing the territory-wide Positive Parent Campaign (the Campaign) since 2020 to promote parent education through extensive and diversified channels, with a view to fostering positive thinking, strategies and attitudes in nurturing children among parents. In recent years, we have organised various parent education activities and produced a theme song for the Campaign, Announcements in the Public Interest on television and radio as well as animations and short videos on parent education to further enhance public awareness on positive parent education. We have also reached out to parents of different backgrounds in the communities to promote the messages of positive parenting through a moving showroom, parent-oriented websites, advertisements at MTR stations and on bus body, online platforms, etc.
     
         Besides, the EDB has been making use of the one-stop parent education website “Smart Parent Net” (www.parent.edu.hk/en 
         From the 2020-21 to 2023-24 financial years, the EDB’s expenditure on promoting home-school co-operation and parent education is about $550 million.
     
         Apart from the EDB, the Maternal and Child Health Centres (MCHCs) administered by the Family Health Service of the Department of Health also provide a Parenting Programme for parents of children up to five years old, which aims to enhance parents’ understanding of their children’s growth and development. The Parenting Programme consists of two components – a universal Parenting Programme and an intensive Positive Parenting Programme (Triple P Programme). The universal Parenting Programme provides individual counselling as well as public health talks and workshops on parenting. During the above individual parenting counselling, healthcare professionals will encourage parents to participate in the Triple P Programme if they notice that the child has early signs of behavioural problems or if the parents encounter difficulties in parenting. The Triple P Programme is a structured parenting programme which aims to increase parents’ confidence in parenting and improve their parenting skills. The programme is conducted by accredited facilitators and offered in the MCHCs in various districts. The programme covers the principles of positive parenting and helps parents to use positive communication skills and effective parenting methods to handle children’s behavioural problems in a way that does not harm the child’s self-esteem.
     
    (2) to (3) Currently, all public-sector schools have set up PTAs. The EDB also encourages schools to plan and organise systematic school-based parent education programmes with reference to the Curriculum Frameworks and constantly evaluate the effectiveness of the programmes. The EDB have all along been regularly reviewing the implementation and effectiveness of the work of schools (including home-school co-operation and parent education) through inspections, school visits, etc, and providing feedback to schools in a timely manner to facilitate continuous development of schools. Publicly-funded schools are also required to draw up an implementation plan and report on the use of the One-off Grant on Parent Education, setting out the details of the subsidised items or activities, relevant expenses and the evaluations for submission to the School Management Committee/ Management Committee/ Incorporated Management Committee for endorsement. 
     
         Besides, the EDB has been requesting the PTAs of schools and the Federations of Parent-Teacher Associations (FPTAs) to submit an assessment report for evaluation of each activity supported by the relevant subsidies on home-school co-operation activities. The EDB also collects opinions from schools and parents through different means to continuously review the effectiveness of the measures implemented. In the 2023/24 school year, about 1 650 schools applied for these subsidies and approval was granted for subsidising around 3 690 activities.
     
    (4) The EDB has been encouraging schools to maintain communication and collaboration with parents through diversified modes and channels so as to facilitate students’ learning and development. In general, schools would assist parents to support the whole-person development of children through the PTA activities, Parents’ Day, Parents’ Night, school publications, e-circulars, school website, groups of the mobile messaging applications, etc. Besides, some schools would make flexible arrangements for meeting and communicating with parents, such as online meetings, to cater for the needs of working parents. Schools may also provide online portals where parents can easily access information to keep track of their children’s academic progress and school activities at their convenience. Schools would in general encourage parents’ participation through activities related to students’ development and learning at school level, grade/form level or class level.
     
    (5) The EDB has been encouraging parents to learn more about the National Security Law, proactively partner with schools and strengthen their collaboration with teachers, with a view to enhancing students’ awareness of safeguarding national security and abiding by the law. To strengthen national education, all publicly-funded schools are required to organise one or more activities relating to national education for parents every year from the 2022/23 school year onwards. The EDB continuously monitors and supports schools on the implementation of related measures through channels such as school visits and daily communications with schools, and makes suggestions for enhancement and improvement in accordance with school-based circumstances. Primary and secondary schools continue to organise different kinds of parent-child activities related to Chinese culture and national security education regularly, such as Chinese Culture Day, visits to the Hong Kong Palace Museum, Jao Tsung-I Academy and the Patriotic Education Centre, publications for parents and related exhibition boards in the school campuses, to help parents understand the importance of safeguarding national security. In addition, schools would invite guest speakers, such as representatives of the Hong Kong deputies to the National People’s Congress, to give talks in the parent seminars at schools with a view to deepening parents’ understanding of national security education and their role in supporting schools’ implementation of national security education.
     
         Apart from the above, the EDB provides subsidies for PTAs of schools and FPTAs, encouraging them to organise activities on national education and national security education. From the 2021/22 to 2023/24 school years, the EDB has approved more than 2 390 applications from PTAs and 14 applications from FPTAs to support the provision of programmes or activities related to national education, national security education and values education, including school cultural exchange tours to the Mainland and local parent-child national education tours. About 64 000 parents have participated in such activities. 
    Issued at HKT 11:15

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Smart Parent Net” Recommendation: (Video)Parent-child Physical Games – Cross the River

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Centre for Health Protection

    Department of Health

    To maintain a healthy physique, you need to exercise regularly! Parents just need to put in some effort, and they can do simple physical games with their children at home. This not only promotes parent-child relationships, but also helps train the children’s limb coordination. Immediately watch the video and try the [Parent-child Physical Games – Cross the River] at home!

    [embedded content]

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Smart Parent Net” Recommendation: (Video)時間管理 – 時間管家(Chinese version only); “Love our Country, Love Hong Kong, Love our Community” Mascot and Logo Design Competitions

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Working Group on Patriotic Education under the Constitution and Basic Law Promotion Steering Committee has organised a mascot and a logo design competition with the theme of “Love our Country, Love Hong Kong, Love our Community”. Students from primary and secondary schools, as well as tertiary institutions, are invited to participate in the competitions with a view to enhancing awareness and sense of patriotism among the youth. This will promote the mainstream values characterised by patriotism with affection for our country and Hong Kong and in conformity with the principle of “one country, two systems”.

    Each of the two competition categories is divided into primary, secondary and tertiary sections. Participants may join more than one competition category, but may only submit one entry for each category. In each competition category, there will be one champion, one first runner-up, one second runner-up and one merit award for each section. To encourage students to actively participate in the competitions, there will also be a Most Supportive School Award. All winners will be awarded certificates. The champion, first runner-up and second runner-up will also be awarded annual passes to the Hong Kong Palace Museum. The winning entry may be adopted by the Government and featured in promotional materials in future.

    Submission of entries for the competitions is open till July 15, 2024. The results are expected to be announced in September or October. Please scan the QR code in the picture or browse the link ( https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202405/30/P2024052900623.htm ) to download the rules of competition and application forms. Students are welcome to participate.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Parents’ Talks on “Choices of Primary Schools” Open for Registration; “Smart Parent Net” Recommendation: Parent-child code -溫柔與堅持(Chinese version only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Education Bureau (EDB) will hold four parent’s talks in September 2024 to enhance parents’ understanding of the Primary One Admission (POA) System.

    Each talk will be divided into two parts. The guest speakers will share with the audience how parents can help children grow up healthily and happily through Home-School Co-operation, while the representatives from the EDB School Places Allocation Section will explain the mechanism and procedure of the POA 2025 in the second part. The talks will be conducted in Cantonese and admission is free. The details of the talks are as follows:EDB Parents’ Talk webpageOnline Application (Chinese version only)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ12: Sister school scheme

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ12: Sister school scheme 
    Question:
     
         Under the Sister School Scheme (the Scheme), many schools in Hong Kong have formed sister school pairs (SSPs) with schools in Mainland cities. Through exchanges and co-operation, SSPs have deepened students’ understanding of Mainland and Hong Kong cultures, and promoted advancement in the quality of education. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the current number of SSPs formed between Hong Kong and Mainland schools, together with a tabulated breakdown by type of schools (i.e. secondary, primary and special schools) and finance type (i.e. public, Direct Subsidy Scheme and private);
     
    (2) of the number of schools which successfully applied for the grant under the Scheme in each of the past 10 years, as well as the number and types of activities organised by the schools with the approved grant; and
     
    (3) whether it will consider extending the scope of the grant under the Scheme to include international schools; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         The Education Bureau (EDB) has launched the Sister School Scheme (the Scheme) since 2004 to encourage Hong Kong schools to form sister school pairs with their Mainland counterparts, with a view to broadening students’ horizons and enhancing their sense of national identity. The Scheme has served as a platform for professional interflows, through which schools in both places can conduct rich and multi-faceted exchanges at school management, teacher and student levels etc, to enhance mutual understanding and achieve mutual advancement in quality of education. The EDB has been actively promoting the Scheme and providing local publicly-funded schools with additional resources and professional support.
     
         Our reply to the questions raised by Hon Lillian Kwok is as follows:
     
    (1) To expand the network of sister schools, the Chief Executive announced in his Policy Address delivered in 2022 that the EDB would, on the basis of having about 780 publicly-funded schools in Hong Kong that had already formed over 2 100 sister school pairs with their Mainland counterparts at the very time, increase the number of Hong Kong schools which would be participating in the Scheme by 10 per cent to around 860 by the end of 2023. The above target had been achieved. According to the information submitted by schools, as of May 2024, a total of 935 afore-mentioned local schools had formed 2 933 sister school pairs with their Mainland counterparts. Relevant breakdowns are set out in the table below:
     

    School type(Note 1)(Note 2)schoolsNote 1: As the Grant for the Sister School Scheme does not cover local private schools, the relevant figures are not available.
    Note 2: Public sector schools comprise government, aided and caput schools.

    (2) To support local schools on planning and conducting exchange activities with their sister schools in the Mainland, since the 2018/19 school year, the EDB has been providing a recurrent grant and professional support to local public sector schools and Direct Subsidy Scheme schools (including special schools) that have formed sister schools with their Mainland counterparts. The grant is set at about $163,000 per school for the 2023/24 school year. The total numbers of schools provided with the grant from the EDB and the expenditures involved in the previous school years, broken down by school year, are set out in the table below:
     

    School year(Note 3)($ million)Note 3: Only the number of schools that applied for the grant is shown. Some schools have formed sister school pairs with their Mainland counterparts but did not apply for the grant.
     
         The EDB renders assistance for local schools to establish sister schools with their Mainland counterparts, as well as providing them with professional support. For example, the EDB co-ordinates pairing-up arrangements, organises exchange activities, conducts school visits, holds sharing sessions regularly to disseminate good practices of exchanges among sister schools, and commissions service contractor(s) to provide schools with advice and support in relation to the arrangements on exchange activities. These efforts seek to promote more in-depth and multi-angle professional exchanges and multi-faceted collaboration, with a view to enhancing the quality and quantity of sister school exchanges, and hence facilitating cultural exchange and increasing teachers and students’ knowledge and understanding of the Mainland.
     
         All along, schools arrange exchange activities (such as school visits, student activities, seminars, teaching demonstrations, lesson evaluation, video conferencing and experience sharing) with their sister schools at student, teacher and school management levels based on their school-based development needs. Schools may publish information of their sister schools and exchange activities on their websites or through other channels. As schools are not required to provide us with details of all their exchange activities, the relevant information on the number and types of exchange activities is not available.
     
         The modes of sister school exchange activities are multi-faceted. Apart from visits to sister schools in the Mainland, online exchanges can be organised for schools to learn from each other and share their experiences and insights at school management, teacher and student levels. Sister schools are encouraged to draw on good practices and develop online exchanges as an ongoing effort, so as to facilitate real-time interaction and sharing among students and teachers, while actively arranging on-site exchange activities for the same to gain first-hand exposure to local culture and an understanding of our motherland.
     
    (3) At present, the Grant for the Sister School Scheme (the Grant) does not cover private schools (including international schools). Private schools are self-financing, market-driven and autonomous in their operation. They have to bear all operating expenses and the Government does not provide them with any recurrent subsidy. Therefore, it is not suitable to extend the Grant to private schools. The EDB will continue to encourage private schools (including international schools) to promote students’ understanding of Chinese history and culture to broaden their horizons having regard to school-based circumstances and needs.
     
         Looking ahead, the EDB will continue to encourage local schools to participate in the Scheme, including providing schools with professional support through diversified modes as well as collection and dissemination of good practices, so as to encourage more exchanges between local schools and their Mainland counterparts under the Scheme.
    Issued at HKT 11:40

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme Opens for New Applications; “Smart Parent Net” Recommendation: Parent-child code – 接納與引導(Chinese version only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme (MUSSS) aims to support Hong Kong students in pursuing undergraduate studies on the Mainland and ensure that no students will be deprived of post-secondary education opportunity due to a lack of means. MUSSS comprises two components: “means-tested subsidy” (eligible students who have passed a means test will receive either a full-rate subsidy or a half-rate subsidy, depending on their needs) and “non-means-tested subsidy”. The subsidy is granted on a yearly basis, and the subsidised period is the normal duration of the undergraduate programme pursued by the student concerned in a designated Mainland institution. Eligible applicants can only receive either a means-tested subsidy or a non-means-tested subsidy in the same academic year. MUSSS is not subject to any quota.

    For the 2024/25 academic year, there are 197 designated Mainland institutions. The means-tested subsidy and the non-means-tested subsidy will be disbursed to eligible students based on the distance between the location of their institutions and Hong Kong, which will be grouped under three categories, category (I) for distances less than 450 km, category (II) for distances between 450 km and 1 000 km as well as category (III) for distances over 1 000 km. Details of the subsidy rates under the different categories will be announced later.(a) having right of abode Note(1)(b) having received and completed senior secondary education in Hong Kong Note(2)(c) pursuing undergraduate studies in any of the 197 designated Mainland institutions in the 2024/25 academic year.(a) having right of abode Note(1)(b) having received and completed senior secondary education in Hong Kong Note(2)(c) pursuing undergraduate studies in any of the 197 designated Mainland institutions in the 2024/25 academic year; and
    (d)(1) attained “3322” Note(3)(d)(2) pursuing studies in Huaqiao University through “Pilot Scheme on the Articulation of Hong Kong Sub-degree Graduates to Huaqiao University”; OR
    (d)(3) admitted to a Mainland institution through the “School Principal Nomination Scheme” under the “Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions”.    (1) A student who is expected to receive his/her right of abode within the 2024/25 academic year may also apply.(2) To also cover schools for Hong Kong children on the Mainland listed under the HKDSE Participating School List published by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority. For the 2024/25 academic year, HKDSE graduates from Shenzhen Hong Kong Pui Kiu College Longhua Xinyi School and Affiliated School of JNU for Hong Kong and Macao Students are eligible to apply provided that they also fulfill other criteria listed under “Eligibility” of MUSSS.(3) Applicable to HKDSE results obtained on or before 2023.(4) Citizenship and Social Development subject replaced the original Liberal Studies subject in the 2024 HKDSE. The scoring criteria for the Citizenship and Social Development subject is “Attained” and “Not Attained”, with “A” representing “Attained”. The HKDSE results obtained in 2024 or later have been revised to “332A”.

    Eligible students are required to submit their applications via the MUSSS Electronic Application Platform (https://musss.edb.gov.hk) or send the completed application forms and relevant supporting documents by post to EDB on or before 13 September 2024.

    Details of MUSSS (including the list of designated Mainland institutions) are available at the EDB website (http://www.edb.gov.hk/musss).

    Enquiries should be directed to 2827 1112 or musss@edb.gov.hk.

     

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ18: Mechanism for vetting the eligibility of applicants for admission adopted by higher education institutions

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ18: Mechanism for vetting the eligibility of applicants for admission adopted by higher education institutions 
    Question:
     
         It has been reported that a university has recently found that some students have provided fraudulent documentary proof of academic qualifications when applying for admission. There are views that the incident has brought potential impact on Hong Kong’s reputation as an international hub for post-‍secondary education. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council if it knows:
     
    (1) the specific measures taken by various higher education institutions to ensure the authenticity and validity of documentary proof of academic qualifications submitted by applicants for admission; and
     
    (2) whether various higher education institutions will enhance their mechanisms for vetting the eligibility of applicants for admission to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents, thereby ensuring the quality of their students; if so, of the specific details?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         Falsifying or furnishing fraudulent academic qualifications is a serious offence liable to a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment. As fraudulent academic qualifications seriously affect student admission by local higher education institutions and Hong Kong’s hard-earned international reputation, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and all sectors of the Hong Kong community deeply resent such act and have zero tolerance towards the matter.
     
         Earlier on, a certain university found a very small number of cases where applicants allegedly submitted fraudulent documents when applying for admission. The university reported the incident to the Police and dealt with the incident seriously, indicating its determination of zero tolerance.
     
         Hong Kong’s higher education has unique advantages, including high teaching quality, strong basic research capabilities, extensive international connections, and close co-operation with the Mainland, representing a strong foundation. We particularly treasure the golden reputation of Hong Kong’s higher education. Facing intense competition for admissions, universities have always established stringent admission procedures and mechanisms to ensure fairness and impartiality in selecting the best candidates. As the cradle of future talent, our higher education institutions must be well prepared for Hong Kong to develop itself into an international hub for post-secondary education, be it academic standards or the establishment of systems.
     
         In response to the question raised by the Hon Tang Fei, our key replies are as follows:
     
    (1) All of the eight University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities have formed academic boards/senates to take charge of academic matters while academic units and/or graduate schools are responsible for the administration and gatekeeping of student admission. There are rigorous admission standards and procedures as well as clear guidelines in place for stringent vetting of the academic qualifications, public examination results and relevant documents of students admitted. Generally speaking, verification is made through various channels, such as requesting the admitted students to arrange for direct dispatch of relevant proof of study (e.g. transcripts) by the respective awarding institutions to the universities concerned, checking with credible platforms (e.g. the China Higher Education Student Information website), verifying the results with the relevant examination boards directly, or requesting the applicants to arrange for direct dispatch of their results by the relevant examination boards to the universities concerned. Students may also be required to produce originals or certified copies of the certificates or transcripts for further checking when registering with the universities in Hong Kong as and when necessary. Those who are unable to furnish the required documents in the above process may have their admission offers rescinded or registration rejected.
     
    (2) The admission mechanisms of the eight UGC-funded universities uphold the principles of merit-based selection, fairness and impartiality. All universities will continue to provide training, including collaborating with the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in this regard, inviting the ICAC to take part in reviewing or providing advice on the admission procedures, and formulating internal guidelines on corruption prevention, etc, with a view to raising anti-corruption awareness among relevant staff and ensuring the integrity of the system and fairness of the admission mechanisms. At the same time, the universities will diligently undertake their gatekeeping responsibilities and clearly demonstrate their zero tolerance stance towards using fraudulent academic qualifications to apply for admission. They will take decisive disciplinary actions upon discovery of such violations, including rescission of admission offers or expulsion, and will refer such cases to the relevant law enforcement agencies and visa-issuing authorities for follow-up action as appropriate. In addition, the universities have been paying closer attention to the recent untrue information, abetting and other illegal activities. They actively make clarifications on their websites, social media and in application forms, and remind applicants that all application materials must be accurate. Unlawful conduct will not be tolerated. In the light of the ever-changing circumstances, the universities will continually improve the arrangements to maintain their academic reputation.
    Issued at HKT 15:02

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) honoured with Udyog Vikas Award

    Source: Government of India

    National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) honoured with Udyog Vikas Award

    Palakkad Industrial Smart City to reshape Kerala’s industrial landscape: Union Minister for State for Heavy Industries, Public Enterprises, and Steel, Shri Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma

    Union Government committed to developing Greenfield Industrial Smart Cities across India

    Posted On: 26 APR 2025 10:57AM by PIB Delhi

    National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) was honoured with the Udyog Vikas Award during the Udyog Vikas event organised by Janmabhumi Daily, a leading news daily in the state of Kerala. The event was graced by the presence of the Minister of State for Heavy Industries, Public Enterprises, and Steel, Shri Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma who highlighted the Union Government’s steadfast commitment to developing state-of-the-art Greenfield Industrial Smart Cities across India.

    During his address, Shri Varma lauded the transformational potential of the Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC) at Palakkad, stating that the project is poised to reshape the infrastructure and industrial landscape of Kerala and the broader southern region of the country.

    The event also featured a technical session focusing on the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme, providing in-depth insights into the strategic vision, planning, and progress of the upcoming Palakkad Industrial Smart City. A dedicated session by NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd. (NLDSL) further elaborated on the innovative digital solutions being deployed through the Logistics Data Bank (LDB) and Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP).

    The Palakkad Industrial Smart City, spanning 1,710 acres across Pudussery Central, Pudussery West, and Kannambra, represents a major milestone in Kerala’s industrial development. Strategically located 21 km from Palakkad city, 120 km from Cochin, and 50 km from Coimbatore, the project offers seamless interstate connectivity and significant logistical advantages, positioning it as a key industrial gateway for South India. With robust multi-modal connectivity via road, rail, and air, the city is designed to attract high-quality investments and drive regional employment and innovation.

    Key project milestones include:

    1. 81% of required land already in possession.
    2. Environmental clearances for all land parcels granted on January 01, 2025.
    3. Letter of Award issued to Project Management and Construction Consultant.
    4. Finalization of EPC tender documents in progress.

    The event also showcased NLDSL’s contributions to transforming India’s logistics ecosystem. Since its inception in September 2022, ULIP has integrated 43 systems from 11 ministries, connected through 129 APIs and more than 1,800 data fields, empowering over 1,300 registered companies and enabling more than 100 crore API transactions. This technology-driven platform exemplifies Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision for a unified, efficient, and transparent logistics network in India.

    NICDC’s recognition at the Udyog Vikas event underlines its vital role in catalyzing India’s industrial transformation and enhancing the country’s competitiveness in the global manufacturing and logistics arena.

    ***

    Abhishik Dayal/ Abhijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas

    (Release ID: 2124461) Visitor Counter : 101

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Smart Parent Net” Recommendation: (Video)Be a physical and psychological healthy parent; Parent Seminar on Admission Arrangements for Nursery (K1) Classes in Kindergartens for the 2025/26 School Year

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Education Bureau (EDB) will continue to implement the admission arrangements for nursery (K1) classes in kindergartens (KGs), including KG-cum-child care centres, for the 2025/26 school year (2025/26 K1 Admission Arrangements). Parents who wish to apply for admission to a K1 class in a KG joining the KG Education Scheme (Scheme-KG) for their children in the 2025/26 school year should follow the procedure set out below. The procedure is applicable to all non-profit-making Scheme-KGs. For details, please visit https://www.edb.gov.hk/k1-admission_eThe EDB will conduct 5 parent seminars in July this year to explain the details of the “2025/26 K1 Admission Arrangements”. Parent seminar coded “2323” will be conducted in English, with simultaneous interpretation services available in Urdu, Hindi and Nepali. There will also be a session where a non-Chinese speaker shares his personal experience in learning Chinese, and parents of non-Chinese speaking (NCS) children are welcome to join. Other seminars will be conducted in Cantonese. For details, please visit https://www.edb.gov.hk/parentstalks_eThere will be parent talks commissioned by the EDB and organized by the Education University of Hong Kong after the parent seminars coded “2324” and “2325”. The parent seminar coded “2324” will cover the topic of home-school cooperation. Through a lively presentation with interactive activities, experience sharing, case analysis, and videos of real-life examples, this talk aims at enhancing parents’ understanding of the significance of home-school cooperation, helping parents understand their role in home-school cooperation, facilitating parents to appreciate the nature and value of a learning portfolio, and empowering parents to read and make use of learning portfolios to facilitate their children’s learning. The parent seminar coded “2325” will cover the topic of learning through play. During this talk, the speaker will explain, demonstrate and discuss various types of play, and help parents understand how to make good use of daily-life materials and appropriate interactive strategies to play with their children at home, so as to facilitate children’s development in different types of creative problem-solving and thinking skills.

     

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