The Standing Committee on Language Education & Research will launch a support scheme to assist schools in using Putonghua to teach Chinese through on-site support by Mainland experts and local consultants.

The scheme, benefiting 160 schools, will be carried out in four phases. Thirty primary schools and 10 secondary schools will receive support in each phase. Each participating school will receive support for three years.

The support includes on-site visits by Mainland professionals and local consultants in the first year to assist the school-based programme's formulation of using Putonghua to teach Chinese. Local consultants will help in subsequent years.

The first phase for the 2008-09 school year is open for application. Schools must submit their application with plans for increasing classes and forms using Putonghua to teach Chinese, including their long-term goal, strategies and resources planning.

The Education Bureau's Language Learning Support Section also provides support to schools in the Chinese language subject teaching. Briefing sessions will be held on February 2. 

Scheme details are available here. For enquiries, call 3165 1185 or send an email message.