Permanent Secretary for Education Raymond Wong has pledged full support for schools to implement their whole-school language policy.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Reading Fair 2010 today, he said the whole-school language policy, which consists of school-based support measures, should not merely focus on how much English teaching schools adopt.

"The key issue should rather be the coherence and entirety of the overall curriculum planning under the new senior secondary academic structure, as well as language education, which includes reading strategies.

To support schools to implement their whole-school language policy, the bureau has invited primary schools to apply for the English nnhancement grant scheme. The bureau will also apply to the Legislative Council for additional funding for the language fund.

The funding, he said, will enable secondary schools to launch or enhance their school-based initiatives under the English enhancement scheme to dovetail with the fine-tuned medium-of-instruction arrangements.

To support schools in implementing the fine-tuned arrangements, the bureau will continue to provide diversified professional support to schools and teachers.