Education Bureau Circular Memorandum No. 41/2021
From: Secretary for Education To: Supervisors / Heads / Teachers of Government, Aided (including Special Schools) and Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) Primary schools
Ref.: EDB(SLPD)/PNSL/GEN/1 Date: 3 May 2021
‘i – Journey’
Paid Non-local Study Leave Scheme for Teachers (4th Cohort) (for Primary School Teachers)
Summary
This circular memorandum invites serving teachers of public sector primary schools to apply for ‘i – Journey’1 Paid Non-local Study Leave Scheme for Teachers (4th Cohort) (for Primary School Teachers) (the Scheme) to be held from April to June 2022 (Tentative). This circular memorandum should be circulated for information of teachers.
Background
2. ‘i – Journey’ Paid Non-local Study Leave Scheme for Secondary School Teachers was introduced on a 3-year pilot period from the 2017/18 to the 2019/20 school years (s.y.) to provide opportunities for secondary school teachers to broaden their perspectives and enrich their experience by taking part in local and overseas structured learning and on-site experiential learning during school attachment. In view of the sector’s need for diversified modes of professional training and positive feedback received from the Pilot Scheme, it will be extended to cover the primary school sector from the 2021/22 s.y. onwards. Through providing overseas professional development activities of a longer duration, with study leave for teachers and funding support for employment of supply teachers for schools, the Scheme has the following objectives:
- enhancing teachers’ professional capacity and inspiring them with the latest global education developments;
- promoting a culture of research and inquiry in schools that brings positive changes and impact on learning and teaching; and
- creating space for teachers to undertake professional development activities on a full-time basis.
1 The Scheme aims to create a learning journey for participants with unique learning experience, where participants will start with an inquiry, get inspired in the process, and most importantly, bring an impact on their teaching/ student learning/ school development upon returning to school. “i” refers to the 3 crucial elements of this Scheme – inquire, inspire and impact, and together they make a fruitful learning journey for participants.
3. Six customised programmes, which allowed teachers to take part in structured learning courses and school attachment overseas, have been successfully conducted in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 s.y.. Relevant details can be found on Education Bureau website (http://www.edb.gov.hk/i-journey).
Details
4. The programmes of the fourth cohort under the Scheme cover the following two themes to cater for primary school teachers’ development needs. Details are as follows:
Programme Location Programme Dates (Tentative) No. of Places B(1) Self-directed Learning Helsinki, Finland
8 consecutive weeks between April and June 2022
20
B(2) Assessment Literacy Cambridge, the
United Kingdom 15
Each of these two customised programmes will comprise the following major components:
Phase One (2021/22 s.y.)
(Tentative)
i. Pre-trip preparation: a one-week period in Hong Kong for structured learning in a local university and developing a school-based project proposal
ii. Overseas experience: a five-week period for structured learning in an overseas university with school attachment/visits, during which participants further develop and finalise their proposals with the knowledge and experience gained
iii. Post-trip consolidation: a two-week period upon returning to Hong Kong for consolidation, write-up of a detailed implementation plan for the school-based project and participating in related courses/activities
Phase Two (2022/23 s.y.)
(Tentative)
iv. Implementation of finalised proposal: a one-year period for the implementation of the school-based project in participants’ schools with a view to bringing positive changes; and the sharing of good practices with a larger professional community
For more detailed information of each customised programme, please refer to the respective Programme Briefs at Appendix B(1) & B(2).
5. Participating teachers will be granted full-pay study leave for the whole period of Phase One (i.e. pre-trip preparation, overseas experience and post-trip consolidation). Course fees and transportation between Hong Kong and the location for overseas experience will also be fully sponsored by the EDB. Funding for employment of supply teachers covering
participants’ whole study leave period will be provided for their schools. Participating teachers have to undertake to teach full-time in public-sector2 primary schools in Hong Kong for not less than two school years upon completion of Phase One of the Programme.
6. Application is open to regular full-time teachers serving in aided primary schools (including Special Schools) and full-time teachers in government and DSS primary schools3. For details on eligibility, application procedures, teaching obligation and undertaking, etc., please refer to the Information Notes to Applicants at Appendix A. Applicants should submit (i) the Application Form at Appendix C on or before 28 May 2021 by email and
(ii) Professional Experience and Initial Project Proposal at Appendix D on or before 25 June 2021 by email.
Applications should be supported by the principal of the applicant’s serving school, with Principal’s Recommendation Form at Appendix E duly completed and submitted separately by 25 June 2021 by post. The above information, relevant appendices as well as the claim form for reimbursement of the salaries of supply teachers have also been uploaded onto Education Bureau website (http://www.edb.gov.hk/i-journey) and the Training Calendar System (TCS) (Course ID: PDT020210101)
7. Applicants may apply for one programme only. Vetting committee(s) will be formed for selection purposes. The selection criteria include applicants’ experience, potential impact of school-based projects, relevance of proposals to the programme applied for and principals’
recommendation, etc. Interviews may be arranged, if necessary.
2 Including government, aided, special schools and DSS schools.
3 “Regular full-time Teachers” refers to teachers on the staff establishment of aided primary schools. Regular teachers with defined contract period are also included. “Full-time teachers in government schools” refers to teachers who are employed on civil service terms. Teachers employed under the Native-speaking English Teacher Scheme are excluded.
8. A Briefing Session will be organised to provide more details of the Scheme and school- based project proposal writing. Teachers who are interested in the Scheme are encouraged to attend the Briefing Session with details as follows:
Date: 21 May 2021 (Friday) Time: 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Venue: W301, West Block, EDB Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre, 19 Suffolk Road, Kowloon Tong
Enrolment: Please scan the QR Code below for online enrolment via TCS (Course ID:
PDT020210098)
Enquiries
9. For enquiries, please contact Mr Ivan LOE (Tel: 3509 8774) or Ms Flora LEUNG (Tel:
3509 8742) of the School Leadership & Professional Development Section, Education Bureau.
(Ms LEE Wai-ping) for Secretary for Education c.c. Heads of Sections --- for information
