SCOLAR encourages applications for teacher professional development grants
The Standing Committee on Language Education and Research (SCOLAR) today (30 August) reminded serving language teachers that the Professional Development Incentive Grant Scheme would continue to accept applications in the new school year to provide financial incentives for them to undertake programmes of study for qualification upgrading.
A spokesman for SCOLAR said, "Applications should be made before the commencement of the programmes and will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis. However, priority will be given to teachers who have neither a degree nor any teacher training in the language subject(s) they teach."
"For teachers who are undertaking relevant programmes of study commenced between 28 June 2003 and 1 April 2004 (when the Scheme first started to accept applications) and wish to apply to the Scheme, they should send in their applications by 5:00 p.m. tomorrow (31 August)," he added.
"These applicants should submit their applications either by mail or in person to SCOLAR Support Unit (SSU) located at Room 934, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong, before the deadline and late submissions may not be processed (according to the post-stamp date on the envelope for mail applications)."
For further information on the Scheme, please visit the SCOLAR website at http://www.language-education.com or contact SSU at 3527 0180.
The Professional Development Incentive Grant Scheme for Language Teachers was launched by SCOLAR in March 2004 to encourage more serving teachers of the Chinese and English Language subjects to enhance their knowledge and pedagogy in the language they teach by providing them with financial incentives to undertake relevant programmes of study.
A total of $225 million has been allocated from the Language Fund to support the Scheme. As at 16 August 2004, the Scheme has received nearly 1 740 applications and the amount of grant sought has exceeded $52 million.
SCOLAR was established in 1996. It advises the Government on language education issues in general and the use of the Language Fund.