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Education IT

HK to launch online learning for needy students

By Xinghui Guo | 29 June 2011

Come 14 July 2011, Hong Kong will launch a HK$220 million (US$28 million) five-year Internet Learning Support Programme (ILSP) and students in need of financial aid can learn at home through the internet.

Through the Internet Access Subsidy under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance scheme or the Student Financial Assistant Agency, ILSP will assist 410 000 primary and secondary students from 300 000 low-income families in the 2011–2012 school year—helping them acquire affordable computers and internet access service.

In the following four years, an additional 112 000 students from 82 000 families stand to benefit from the ILSP.

Stephen Mak, Government Chief Information Officer, said, “Web-based learning has become an integral part of education and a way of life for students. The government recognises the importance of providing suitable internet learning opportunities for students in need in order to mitigate the impact of the digital divide on the quality of learning.”

“The programme facilitates access to information technology and the internet, and the associated educational opportunities.”

The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) has engaged two non-profit organisationsto implement the programme in two separate geographical zones in Hong Kong.

Both implementers will set up service centres in their respective zones with the following services:

Economical internet access services;

Affordable computer equipment with flexible payment options;

Technical support through hotlines and help desks;

Training for students and parents;

Group-based and one-on-one advisory services.

Both implementers are required to provide a minimum of 360 training sessions to eligible families and students in the next 18 months.

“During this period, we expect that no less than 72 000 registered families would receive services from the programme and at least 85 per cent of families having no access to the Internet at the time of registration would set up Internet connections at home after joining the programme,” Mak added.

An internet portal called ‘I Learn at Home’ went live on 27 June 2011 and this portal will give the public further information on the scope of services, service zones, contact details of the programme implementers, locations of service centres, eligibility and application procedures.

The OGCIO will monitor the implementation arrangements through a programme steering committee led by Mak, and through quarterly operational and financial reports from the implementers. The OGCIO will also update the Legislative Council Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting of progress regularly.

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