Education for Newly Arrived Children and
Youngsters

The Education Department, with the assistance of non-governmental
organisations (NGOs), operates an induction programme for newly
arrived children and youngsters aged six to 15 to help them adapt to the
local social and school environment. NGOs also run programmes to help
newly arrived children and youngsters aged nine to 15 improve their
English standard. Feedback from teachers, students and the community
to these programmes has been very positive.

A set of self-learning packages on the English Language and a
multi-media CD-ROM named 'From Simplified to Traditional Chinese
Characters' (with guidelines) were produced and distributed to schools
and NGOs for use by the newly arrived children and youngsters. Tests
on the Chinese Language, English Language and Mathematics were
constructed to help schools assess the standard of newly arrived
children and youngsters for admission to Primary 2 to Secondary 4
levels. Advice was also given to teachers on tailoring the curricula in
the subjects of Chinese Language and English Language for Primary 1
to Secondary 3 students.

To help newly arrived children or youngsters already admitted to schools
overcome learning and other adaptation problems, a school-based support
programme was introduced in September 1997. A block grant is given to
public sector schools which admit such students, at the rate of $2,000
per pupil at primary level and $3,330 at secondary level. A pilot scheme
on short-term preparatory courses for newly arrived children and
youngsters is being introduced in five primary and two secondary
schools. To increase educational opportunities for newly arrived children
and youngsters aged 15 or above, from September 1996 the age for
admission to all adult education programmes and courses was lowered
from 18 to 15.

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