A sister-school scheme giving Hong Kong students more exposure to the Mainland has been running well with more institutes taking part, Permanent Secretary for Education Raymond Wong says.

There are 150 pairs of sister schools in Guangdong and Hong Kong. Another 15 to 20 local schools will pair up with Guangdong ones in 2009-10.

Mr Wong and Guangdong's Director of Education Dr Luo Wei Qi jointly held the Hong Kong-Guangdong Expert Group on Co-operation in Education meeting in Guangzhou today to prepare for the 12th Plenary of the Hong Kong-Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference to be conducted later this year.

The two sides shared views on boosting co-operation between Hong Kong and Mainland teachers, the continuing implementation of the sister-school scheme, extending national education programmes for local students and enhancing exchange on higher and vocational education and examination business between the two places.

Mr Wong said Hong Kong and Guangdong are making good progress on co-operation in different education aspects.

From this year the Education Bureau will increase the subsidised exchange quota under the National Education Exchange Programme on the Mainland from 5,000, mainly covering secondary students, to 37,000 to include primary students.

Both sides have agreed to explore further collaboration efforts for higher and vocational education institutions.