The Chinese University of Hong Kong was awarded a grant of HK$74 million by the HKSAR government to provide professional support to principals and teachers of primary and secondary schools through two projects: Partnership for Improvement of Learning and Teaching and Quality School Improvement. The largest grant ever awarded to a tertiary institution in Hong Kong for such purposes, it will help position the University as an Asian centre of excellence in school development.
The Centre of University and School Partnership of the CUHK Faculty of Education and the Hong Kong Institute of Educational Research reached an agreement with the Education and Manpower Bureau in December 2004 to implement Partnership for Improvement of Learning and Teaching (PILT) and Quality School Improvement (QSI) in the five years from 2004 to 2009.
The PILT project provides professional support for the development of different key learning areas and subjects in junior secondary schools, including Personal, Social and Humanity Education, Science, Mathematics, Physical Education, Integrated Humanities, and the proposed Liberal Studies. It will also empower teachers to tackle the challenges brought about by curriculum reform and changes in the secondary school system.
PILT will be administered by a team of 20 professors and instructors from the Faculty of Education, external frontline experts, and school development officers of the Centre of University and School Partnership. Prof. John Lee Chi-kin of the Faculty of Education will serve as the director while Prof. Billy So Kee-long, Prof. Jimmy Yu Chai-mei, Mr. Hon Hau-sut, and Mr. Chan Kai-yeen will serve as members of the advisory committee. Ms. Louisa Cheung Yuet-sai will be the project manager.
The QSI project is a comprehensive school improvement project that aims to facilitate school development and promote quality school culture in Hong Kong. Its ultimate goal is all-round development in all students. The project is led by director, Prof. Leslie N.K. Lo; executive director, Dr. Chiu Chi-shing; head of research and development, Prof. Wong Hin-wah; and head of the management committee, Prof. Chung Yue-ping. The QSI team will enhance the professional capacities of teachers and principals in areas such as teaching and learning, prioritization of school aims, and development of a continuous self-inquiry process.
The Chinese University, the Centre of University and School Partnership, and the Hong Kong Institute of Educational Research have been promoting comprehensive school development projects since 1997. To date, the University has been awarded grants totaling over HK$130 million for such projects. The Accelerated Schools for Quality Education project (1998-2001) received the highest ever funding for a single project from the Quality Education Fund. The Quality Schools in Action (2003-4) and the Student Leadership Development—Creativity, Critical Thinking, Caring, and Commitment (2004-5) were awarded the upper allocation limit of the Quality Education Fund in respectively the sixth round and the seventh round of the funding exercise.