The Hong Kong Government's Working Group on Textbooks & e-Learning Resources Development has submitted a report proposing that a three-year pilot scheme to promote e-learning be launched in up to 30 primary and secondary schools in the 2010-11 school year.

The Working Group, which was set up a year ago, includes information technology experts, secondary and primary school principals and teachers, publishers, community members and parents.

The report suggests that development of the depository of curriculum-based learning and teaching resources be expedited and strengthened at primary and junior secondary levels with additional resources from the 2009-10 school year.

Proposing that a one-off grant for buying e-learning resources over the next three years be disbursed to all primary and secondary schools in this school year and that an e-commerce platform for e-learning resources be introduced, the report also suggested that an online community for teachers should be established at the Education City website.

The Working Group recommended debundling textbooks, and learning and teaching resources for pricing, and changing textbooks' three-year rule of no revision to five years from 2010-11.

Michael Suen chatting to a student during a visit to Hong Kong True Light College

Secretary for Education, Michael Suen welcomed the report, saying the Government is committed to developing e-learning which will enhance student learning and development.

He said the recommendations on how the Government can encourage and support schools to make good use of e-learning resources will be carefully considered, noting that printed textbooks have their own value as learning materials.

Working Group Chairman and Under-Secretary for Education, Kenneth Chen said the successful development of e-learning depends on a change in teaching modes by teachers and the development and supply of diversified e-learning resources, adding that collaboration among schools and the publishing and information technology sectors is needed.

He said debundling printed textbooks and learning and teaching resources for pricing is in line with the user-pays principle and teachers will be able to get proper teaching materials of their own choice.

For more details on the report, please click here.