Hong Kong schools get HK$400,000 boost for English and Mandarin self-learning initiatives. Photo: Yik Yeung-manHong Kong schools will receive a HK$400,000 (US$51,495) grant to boost English and Mandarin skills through self-learning initiatives.
Education authorities said schools could use the money to bring in language learning resources, purchase services or hire instructors and support staff before the end of the 2026-27 academic year. The amount should be split evenly between English and Mandarin.
“Language acquisition should not be confined to the classroom, and students also learn through various means,” the Education Bureau said earlier this month. “Therefore, it is important to nurture students’ self-directed learning so that they can proactively take charge of their own learning.”
Eligible schools include public primary and secondary schools and institutions joining the direct subsidy scheme. They do not need to apply for the funds, which were to distributed this month.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in his policy address in October that the government had allocated HK$470 million to improve the teaching of English, Mandarin and other languages.
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The bureau said schools could procure or subscribe to resources for promoting self-directed language learning. They could also hire language instructors or non-teaching support staff to help students, it said.
They could purchase services related to learning and teaching from individuals or professional organisations with relevant expertise in developing school-based resources to support language learning.
“Schools may combine other subsidies from the Education Bureau on a need basis to cover the relevant costs,” it added.
“The use of the grants should also be documented for review and inspection.”
Authorities said schools would be required to submit a report on how the grants were used.
“If schools fail to submit the reports on time, the Education Bureau reserves the right to claw back the one-off grants in full,” it warned.
The bureau also said the government would take back any unspent balance as of August 31, 2027 from the schools.