Quality Education FundBriefing on Application

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28 March 2014 (Secondary Schools)

Education Landscape in Hong Kong and Tips on QEF Application

Dr Catherine K K Chan

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Secondary Education Landscape

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With strong policy and budget support, our commitment to education can only be stronger.

Let’s build on what we have achieved and explore opportunities for advancement e.g. the QEF.

Policy Address

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Support the needy:• NCS• Students with SEN• Disadvantaged students

Let youth flourish:• ITE4• career guidance

Unleash HK’s potential:• vocational education• …

Budget Speech

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Career navigation & training:• Strengthen career guidance and life

planning in schools• Elite training programmes in secondary

schools to cultivate young IT professionals

Continuing education & training:• Assist VTC in strengthening vocational

education & training• Increase senior-year undergraduate places• Support the sustainable development of

the Qualifications Framework

engagement

of parents e-learning projects

pedagogical innovation,research projects

capacity building and professional sharing

digital

literacy,

Internet

safety

e-platform, hardware and software

self-directed learning

enhancing learning & teaching

addressing learner diversity life-long learning

e-le

arn

ing re

source

s

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NAS Review Progress Report (April 2013):Moving Forward to Excel

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Focus on whole-person development,

knowledge, generic skills,

values and attitudes,

Broadened perspectives and global

outlook

Articulation with

multiple pathways

Emphasis on goal setting

& career planning

Access to S6 provided for ALL to realise potential

Broad and balanced curriculum

Good range of choices & learning

experiences

Promoting whole-person development & life-long learning

Advancement achieved through NAS

Curriculum planning

Learning

&

TeachingAssess-ment

.

Explore the need for greater support for language learning

Bi-literate and trilingual proficiency ranked as top priority by most schools

Increased use of questioning to facilitate student learning, but there’s still room for improvement

Room for improvement regarding cross-panel collaboration, use of SBA to facilitate learning

Assessment data commonly used for giving feedback, identifying learning difficulties and adapting teaching plans.

Secondary education : observations in schools Senior Secondary Curriculum Implementation Survey (data collected in Jun-Aug 2013):

Learning to Learn,

Learning to Excel

Give more attention to vertical continuity between JS and SS to facilitate transition

Better coordination among subjects, and reducing curriculum contents to make room for use of more diversified L&T strategies to cater for LD

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ICCS

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Our joint effort and commitment are paying off, as shown in various international assessment studies.

TiMSS

PISA

Fulfilling rising expectations – Effective learning is the key

» Realising potential by promoting effective learning – a global concern

» Building on strengths, e.g. math, science, ....» A new outlook on harnessing information technology

for learning » Promoting self-directed learning» Catering to diversity of students» Catering to diversity of schools» Providing diversified pathways ...

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Planning for the next few years:Curriculum renewal: Learning to Learn, Learning to Excel

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Basic Education• Updating the Basic Education Curriculum Guide (primary education):

highlighting generic skills other than the 3Cs, whole school curriculum planning, assessment for/as learning, self-directed learning [by mid-2014]

• Launching the Secondary Education Curriculum Guide (secondary education): supporting schools in planning a 6-year secondary curriculum [by end-2015]

• Updating Key Learning Area (KLA) Guides [by end-2015]• Revision of Subject Guides to support curriculum renewal [aligned with

the subject curriculum review cycle]• Review of individual KLAs as necessary [according to issues, in own

review cycles]

Senior Secondary Education • NAS Medium-term Review [by mid-2015]• Regular review of senior secondary curriculum and assessment

Let’s build on what we have achieved and capitalise on each single opportunity for advancement so that we can be

better equipped to meet the rising expectations.

One such opportunity is to make use of QEF to support innovation and sustain the reform momentum to promote

learning to learn and learning to excel. 12

Quality Education Fund

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Background InformationEncouragement of innovation and bottom up initiatives

Complementary support for education policy

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The Quality Education Fund (QEF) was set up in January 1998 with an allocation of $5 billion under the recommendation of the Education Commission Report No. 7 (ECR7).

The QEF sponsors worthwhile projects that benefit kindergarten, primary, secondary and special education. They should be non-profit making and aim to further enhance the quality of education in line with the prevailing education policies in Hong Kong.

The QEF encourages school-based innovative projects with new ideas or practices (and/or enhancement or adaptation of existing practices) serving to supplement or complement the existing practices to bring about positive capacity and/or impact on learning and teaching.

Priority Themes for 2014/15

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Learning and Teaching• Catering for Learners’ Diversity• Effective Learning and Teaching of Languages• Enhancing Learning & Teaching, and Assessment Literacy with a view to

enhancing student learning outcomes• Using e-Learning (IT) for Effective Learning• Values Education• Creative Arts and Culture Education

Support for Students and School Ethos• Healthy Lifestyle and Positive Development of Students• Support for Students with Diverse Needs• Promoting Whole Child Development in Kindergarten Education

Management and Organisation• Supporting Effective School Management and Leadership• Teacher Development and Wellness for Promoting Schools as Learning

Organisations*Applicants can submit cross-theme proposals

New and Revised Measures in 2014/15

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Priority Themes• The QEF renewed the priority themes on 24 March 2014.

Simplified Application Procedure for Applications with Grant Sought not Exceeding $150,000• Each applicant would be allowed to submit two applications

on any theme in different contexts with grant sought not exceeding $150,000 on top of their existing allowable quota.

• Applicants should provide an application proposal by completing a form in not more than six A4 pages with font size no smaller than 11 points and single line spacing.

• Exemplars of proposals will be available for applicants’ easy reference.

Project Assessment

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Project proposals will be assessed in accordance with Project Needs, Project Feasibility and Expected Project Outcomes. Applications that demonstrate the various approaches to promoting school-based innovations will be given priority consideration in funding decisions.

On top of the respective existing quotas for different types of applicants, each applicant would be allowed to submit two applications with grant sought not exceeding $150,000.

A simplified application form will be used for writing the proposal for application with grant sought not exceeding $150,000

Applications with grant sought not exceeding $600,000 will be processed normally within three months.

There is no change in the processing time for those above $600,000, i.e. within six months.

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• evidence-based assessment, needs and priorities of the school/ students, connected to school development plan

• innovative/ school-based innovative elements (including enhancement, adaptation)

• conceptual framework, or rationale, or professional principles or justifications with feasible implementation plan and activities

Applications should include:

Tips on Proposal Writing

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• Clear roles and involvement of the teachers/ principal

• Reasonable budget plan• Clear evaluation methods , tangible / intangible

deliverables• Dissemination / promotion plan (when

appropriate)

Applications should include:

Tips on Proposal Writing

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Applications should not:

• Provide just school history with no identification of latest needs

• Replicate existing activities• Outline activities without explanation or reference to the

conceptual framework /professional principles or justifications/ rationale

Tips on Proposal Writing

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Applications should not:

• Simply contract out services without enhancing professionalism among teachers

• List out budget items without justifications • Organise activities of one-off nature like exhibition or

competition without sustainable impact

Tips on Proposal Writing

"Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd.

Without innovation, it is a corpse.” Winston Churchill

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To advance the art and craft of teaching, let’s be a shepherd of innovation.