GBA education expo spotlights AI in educational technology
With a continuous decline in Hong Kong's school-age population, finding good students has become crucial for the future of the city's education. The third GBA Hong Kong Schools Expo, jointly organized by four major councils, including the Hong Kong Subsidized Secondary Schools Council, will be held from Nov. 28 to 30, attracting over 300 kindergartens, primary, and secondary schools. The event is free and open to the public, with a special focus on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in teaching.
The expo will be held at the AsiaWorld-Expo. Cheung Chok-fong, principal of Yaumati Catholic Primary School and chairperson of the organizing committee, said the venue scale has expanded from two to three halls this year, with a record number of participating schools, covering nine school sponsoring bodies and nine tertiary institutions. She hopes the event will enhance the brand image and positioning of HK schools in the GBA and the mainland, with an estimated attendance of over 50,000 visitors.
On-site interview, written test zones and AI-themed activities
In line with the government's policy of promoting AI in education, this year's expo features several related activities. Cheung revealed that experts will be invited to share topics such as "Empowering Children to Learn with Wisdom" and "Future Careers: What Skills Will Your Child Need by 2030," teaching how to leverage AI to enhance learning outcomes. The organizer will continue to use the WeChat mini-program "HK School Circle" to provide VR virtual school previews and will set up school interview and written test zones for on-site communication.
The expo will also offer multiple mock classes for mainland students to experience HK-style teaching. Approximately 16 classes will be held daily during the three-day event, focusing on English and AI themes, with nearly all spots already filled.
Chung Lai-kam, honorary chairman of the HK Subsidized Primary Schools Council and principal of Po Kok Primary School, noted that parents are generally concerned about international qualification recognition, medium of instruction, extracurricular activities and education system articulation. She observed that parents from mainland cities in the GBA are relatively familiar with HK's education system and will inquire in detail about secondary school placement, while parents from other regions need to start from the basics.
Unified admission assessment standards
When asked whether simplified Chinese characters are accepted in entrance assessments, Dion Chen, principal of Ying Wa College, and several other principals emphasized that all assessments use standardized test papers to ensure fairness and justice, adhering to the principle of merit-based admission.
Lee Yi-ying, principal of Kowloon True Light School, said HK's education system is diverse and open with abundant resources and outstanding teaching staff, truly achieving a "biliterate and trilingual" teaching environment, and remains open and welcoming to all students.
Blueprint for Digital Education in Primary and Secondary Schools expected next year
The Education Bureau established a Steering Committee on Strategic Development of Digital Education in January, setting key directions for digital education in HK's primary and secondary schools. Secretary for Education Jeff Sze, who chairs the committee, revealed yesterday that the new school year will further promote digital education, including systematic AI training for principals and teachers and a digital literacy student award scheme. The much-anticipated "Digital Education Blueprint" is expected to be released next year.
Sze wrote in an online column that the Policy Address has announced the reservation of HK$20 billion to support digital education in primary and secondary schools. The bureau held the "Briefing Session cum Launching Ceremony on Digital Education Teacher Professional Development Programmes and the Student Activity" in late October, featuring a discussion on AI's opportunities and challenges in education by Cheng Kai-ming, honorary university fellow and professor emeritus of the University of Hong Kong.
The "Literacy Excellence And Digital Skills Award" for all primary and secondary schools in HK, jointly organized by the HK Association for Computer Education and HK Education City, has recently released details to enhance students' ability to use innovative technology for learning effectively, ethically, and responsibly.
Sze said the blueprint will cover specific implementation plans, including formulating an "AI Literacy" learning framework, incorporating AI education into the core curriculum, strengthening teacher training, and introducing corporate resources. He pledged to continue gathering opinions from the education sector and other stakeholders to refine the strategy.
More e-learning platforms and tools
Additionally, the Education Bureau will release the second batch of outcomes under the e-Learning Supporting Measures in December, providing schools with more quality e-learning platforms and tools. The Quality Education Fund e-Learning Funding Programme will also be extended to the 2026/2027 school year. Sze expressed that the atmosphere for promoting digital education in the sector is increasingly strong and hopes for joint efforts to cultivate talents needed for the future society.
(Source: Wen Wei Po | English Editor: Wynnea Tian, Liu Yu)
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