EDB announces arrangements for student grant for 2024/25 school year
The Education Bureau (EDB) today (August 30) issued a circular memorandum to all secondary day schools, primary schools, special schools and kindergartens in Hong Kong, announcing the arrangements for the provision of a student grant to day-school students in the 2024/25 school year.
An EDB spokesman said, "The Government provides a student grant of $2,500 for secondary day-school, primary school and kindergarten students every school year. The provision of the grant has been regularised starting from the 2020/21 school year to alleviate the burden of educational expenses on parents."
The student grant is non-means-tested. All students, at the date of application, studying in secondary day-schools, primary schools, special schools and kindergartens in Hong Kong are eligible for the grant. Students of evening schools, students of private studies, holders of student visas for entry into Hong Kong for studies and students holding Recognisance Forms issued by the Immigration Department are not within the scope of the subsidy.
The spokesman continued, "The following students are deemed eligible for the grant owing to special circumstances: (a) children at the age of 2 years and 8 months or above as at September 1 of the 2024/25 school year concerned attending a Special Child Care Centre subsidised by the Social Welfare Department owing to special needs; (b) newly arrived children attending a full-time Initiation Programme funded by the EDB; and (c) students taking full-time programmes for Secondary Three school leavers offered by the Vocational Training Council. We will issue letters to relevant organisations and institutions today to inform them of the details."
The spokesman added, "Starting from the 2024/25 school year, electronic submission of student grant applications (e-submission) will be expanded to cover all school types. Parents may log in to the e-platform via an 'iAM Smart+' account with a digital signing function to submit applications for all their eligible children in one go. For the 2024/25 school year, the e-platform will open from 6am on September 13 to 11.59pm on October 2. Parents are encouraged to use e-submission to enjoy more convenient and efficient e-service. A series of videos on e-submission is available on the EDB website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/student-parents/support-subsidies/student-grant/e-submission.html)."
To cater for the needs of individual parents, apart from e-submission, the EDB provides an option for parents to return the completed applications in paper form to schools. Only one application, either in electronic form or paper form, can be submitted for each eligible student. Schools are required to submit the completed forms to the EDB for follow-up on or before November 13. The EDB will normally disburse the subsidy in about six weeks after receiving the duly completed application forms and will inform parents of the application progress via SMS and email as appropriate.
Details of the student grant are available on the EDB website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/student-parents/support-subsidies/student-grant/index.html).
Source: AI-generated images
"Let's T.A.L.K. and Walk with Kids" stakeholder engagement event to promote positive parenting and strengthen family bonding held today
The Commission on Children (CoC), the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and the Social Welfare Department today (September 14) jointly held the"Let's T.A.L.K. and Walk with Kids" stakeholder engagement and Mid-Autumn Festival celebration event under the theme of positive parenting and family bonding. Through a variety of parent-child interactive games, stress relief activities and sharing sessions, the event aimed at promoting positive parenting, enhancing family bonding and celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Over 80 participants from around 30 families with children participating in the Child Development Fund
and their family members attended the event. The Secretary for Labour and Welfare and Vice-chairperson of the CoC, Mr Chris Sun, together with ex-officio member of the CoC, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Siu Chak-yee, and the Director of Social Welfare, Miss Charmaine Lee, joined the event to cheer on the parents and children.
Mr Sun said that a harmonious family relationship is conducive to the healthy development of children, both physically and mentally. He encouraged parents to spend more time playing with their children and share quality parent-child moments together. Mr Siu hoped that the event, with a series of diverse and challenging parent-child interactive games, would provide participants with special family time together, and could promote positive and healthy family relationships. Miss Lee said that families are the cornerstone of society and the backbone of child protection. She encouraged families to develop stronger familial bonds and enhanced care so that a loving and harmonious environment can be built for the children.
As part of the "Walk with Kids" thematic campaign of the CoC, the stakeholder engagement event was conducted in the format of a day camp at the Junior Police Call Permanent Activity Centre and Integrated Youth Training Camp at Pat Heung. Non-official members of the CoC moderated the group sharing sessions, listening to parents sharing parenting experiences, and providing suggestions for practising positive parenting and enhancing family relationships. Under the guidance of the clinical psychologist from the HKPF, parents also learned and shared relaxation techniques with an aim to assist them in facing parenting challenges with a positive mindset amid their busy daily lives. Apart from a series of parent-child adventure and experiential activities, there was a lantern-making workshop to enhance interaction and collaboration between parents and their children, riding on the vibe of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
"Let's T.A.L.K. and Walk with Kids" stakeholder engagement event to promote positive parenting and strengthen family bonding held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Let's T.A.L.K. and Walk with Kids" stakeholder engagement event to promote positive parenting and strengthen family bonding held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Let's T.A.L.K. and Walk with Kids" stakeholder engagement event to promote positive parenting and strengthen family bonding held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Let's T.A.L.K. and Walk with Kids" stakeholder engagement event to promote positive parenting and strengthen family bonding held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Let's T.A.L.K. and Walk with Kids" stakeholder engagement event to promote positive parenting and strengthen family bonding held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Let's T.A.L.K. and Walk with Kids" stakeholder engagement event to promote positive parenting and strengthen family bonding held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Let's T.A.L.K. and Walk with Kids" stakeholder engagement event to promote positive parenting and strengthen family bonding held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
"Let's T.A.L.K. and Walk with Kids" stakeholder engagement event to promote positive parenting and strengthen family bonding held today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
