EDUCATION BUREAU CIRCULAR MEMORANDUM NO. 42/2022

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EDUCATION BUREAU CIRCULAR MEMORANDUM NO. 42/2022 From:

Ref.:

Permanent Secretary for Education

EDB(SA3)/AEF/POL/14

To: Supervisors and Heads of all Private Schools Offering Non-formal Curriculum and designated centres under the Financial Assistance Scheme for Designated Evening Adult Education Courses

Date: 17 February 2022 c.c. Heads of Sections – for information

One-off Relief Grant under the Sixth Round of Anti-epidemic Fund for Private Schools Offering Non-formal Curriculum

Summary

The purpose of this circular memorandum (CM) is to invite private schools offering non-formal curriculum (PSNFCs) registered under the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279) (generally referred to as “tutorial schools”) and designated centres under the Financial Assistance Scheme for Designated Evening Adult Education Courses (FAEAEC) (referred as “designated centres under FAEAEC” below) to apply for a one-off relief grant under the sixth round of Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF).

Details

2. On 15 February 2022, the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council approved injection into AEF for implementing a series of relief measures under the sixth round of AEF, targeting sectors affected by the anti-epidemic measures. To alleviate the financial hardship arising from the suspension of face-to-face classes/conducting of half-day schooling in light of the persistent and recent worsening of Coronavirus Disease 2019 epidemic, the Education Bureau (EDB) provides a one-off grant of $40,000 to each PSNFC registered under the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279). Designated centres under FAEAEC, which offer evening secondary school courses for adult learners, are also eligible.

Eligible Schools

3. All PSNFCs and designated centres under FAEAEC registered under the Education Ordinance (Cap 279) that are in operation on the issue date of this CMare eligible. Should a PSNFC operate both day and evening sessions at the same premises, it will be considered as one school irrespective of whether it has one or two registrations. For PSNFCs of the same group operating at different locations and having a separate registration for the school

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at each location, each separately registered school will be counted as one school.

Disbursement Arrangement

4. For schools which have previously applied for the one-off relief grant under the fifth round of AEF, and are still in operation on the issue date of this CM, they are simply required to complete the declaration form in Annex I and return it to the School Administration 3 Section by email (Email address: [email protected]) or by post (Address: 3/F, 14 Taikoo Wan Road, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong) on or before 10 March 2022. Schools are not required to submit any documentary proof of the school being in operation (such as receipts of payment for the rent, water bill, electricity bill or other relevant receipts / bills issued within 30 days before or after the issue of this CM). Unless there are changes in the information previously submitted (e.g. name of the payee), no further supporting documents are required.

5. For schools which have previously received the one-off relief grant under the second, third and/or fourth round of AEF and have not applied for the one-off relief grant under the fifth round of AEF, they are required to complete Annex II and return it together with the documentary proof of the school being in operation on the issue date of this CM, such as receipts of payment for the rent, water bill, electricity bill or other relevant receipts / bills issued within 30 days before or after the issue of this CM to the School Administration 3 Section by email (Email address: [email protected]) or by post (Address: 3/F, 14 Taikoo Wan Road, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong) on or before 10 March 2022. Unless there are changes in the information of the name of the payee previously submitted, no further supporting documents are required.

6. For schools which have not applied for or were not approved of the above-mentioned one-off relief grant under the second, third, fourth or fifth round of AEF and have fulfilled the criteria mentioned in paragraph 3 above, they are required to complete Annex III and return it together with the following supporting documents to the School Administration 3 Section by post (Address: 3/F, 14 Taikoo Wan Road, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong) on or before 10 March 2022:

(a) a copy of the school’s Certificate of Registration; and

(b) documentary proof of the school being in operation on the issue date of this CM, such as receipts of payment for the rent, water bill, electricity bill or other relevant receipts / bills issued within 30 days before or after the issue date of this CM.

This one-off grant will be released by crossed cheque with the name of the payee exactly the same as the school name registered under the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279). For special situations that the name of the payee is different from the school name, the applicant school is required to provide the relevant documentary proof.

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Accounting Arrangement

7. Upon receipt of complete and accurate information, a crossed cheque will normally be sent to the address as indicated on the school’s Certificate of Registration in about one month’s time. All schools should properly record the one-off grant in their books of accounts.

All books of accounts, receipts, payment vouchers and invoices must be kept for at least 7 years by schools for accounting and auditing purposes. The school should use the grant for expenses in school operation and be responsible for ensuring its effective use. In this connection, schools are advised that the grant must not be used for expenses in entertainment.

Schools are also not allowed to distribute the grant to a third party in any form, including as donations or loans, or transfer it to other accounts. The EDB may request schools to provide information and relevant documents for examining the use of the grant. If schools are found not spending the grant properly, schools will be required to return the disbursed grant to the Bureau.

Enquiries

8. For enquiries, please contact the respective Senior School Development Officers or the School Administration 3 Section at 2863 4675.

(Dr Verena LAU)

for Permanent Secretary for Education

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Annex I One-off Relief Grant under the Sixth Round of Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF)

for Private Schools Offering Non-formal Curriculum Reply Slip

(For schools having previously applied for the relief grant under the fifth round of AEF) To： Permanent Secretary for Education

(Attn：School Administration 3 Section, Education Bureau)

(Return by email to [email protected] or by post to 3/F, 14 Taikoo Wan Road, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong)

I ______________________________________________ (name) am the Supervisor of _________________________________________________________________ (name of school) with school registration number _______________ (six-digit) and would like to declare that:

( *Please  as appropriate )

Part A (For schools still in operation without change in information)

 * All registered location(s) under the above-named school are still in operation on the issue date of this circular memorandum, and are eligible for the one-off relief grant under the sixth round of AEF.

(No documentary proof is required and no need to complete Part B) Part B (For schools still in operation with change in information)

 * All registered location(s) of the above-named school are still in operation on the issue date of this circular memorandum, and are eligible for the one-off relief grant under the sixth round of AEF but has to change the following information:

 *The payee’s name was changed to the name of the school. (No documentary proof is required)

 *The payee’s name was changed to _______________________________________________, which is NOT the same as the name of the school.

The reason(s) for using the above bank account is/are as follows:

___________________________________________________________________________

Documentary proof showing the relationship of the bank account holder and the above- named school is attached.

 *Others (Please specify if necessary):

___________________________________________________________________________

Contact information: (a) E-mail address for contact: _________________________________

(b) Contact Phone Number: ___________________________________

(c) Contact Person: Mr / Ms___________________________________

I understand and will abide by the applicable terms stipulated in the EDBCM No. 42/2022 on the One-off Relief Grant under the sixth round of AEF.

Signature of Supervisor：___________________________________

Name of Supervisor：___________________________________

Date：__________________________________

School Chop

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Annex II One-off Relief Grant under the Sixth Round of Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF)

for Private Schools Offering Non-formal Curriculum Reply Slip

(For schools having previously received the relief grant under the second, third and/or fourth round of AEF, but not having applied for the relief grant under the fifth round of AEF)

To： Permanent Secretary for Education

(Return by email to [email protected] or by post to 3/F, 14 Taikoo Wan Road, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong)

I, ______________________________________________ (name), the Supervisor of ______________________________________________ (name of school), would like to apply for the captioned relief grant. I confirm that all registered location(s) under the above-named school are in operation on the issue date of this circular memorandum:

1. Name of school: ________________________________________________________________

2. School registration number (six-digit): _______________

3. Contact information:

4. I confirm that:

( *Please _ as appropriate )

 *The previous payee information remains unchanged. (No documentary proof is required)

 *The payee’s name was changed to the name of the school. (No documentary proof is required)

 *The payee’s name was changed to _______________________________________________, which is NOT the same as the name of the school.

_____________________________________________________________________________

I understand and will abide by the applicable terms stipulated in the EDBCM No. 42/2022 on the One-off Relief Grant under the sixth round of AEF. Documentary proof showing the school is still in operation on the issue date of this circular memorandum is attached to this reply slip.

Signature of Supervisor：

Name of Supervisor：

(a) E-mail address for contact: _________________________________

(b) Contact Phone Number: ___________________________________

(c) Contact Person: Mr / Ms___________________________________

School Chop

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Annex III

One-off Relief Grant under the Sixth Round of Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF) for Private Schools Offering Non-formal Curriculum

Application Form (For new applicant schools) To： Permanent Secretary for Education

(Return by post to 3/F, 14 Taikoo Wan Road, Taikoo Shing, Hong Kong)

I, ______________________________________________ (name), the Supervisor of ______________________________________________ (name of school), would like to apply for the captioned relief grant. I confirm that the following information is correct:

1. Name of school: ________________________________________________________________

2. School registration number (six-digit): _______________

3. Contact information:

4. I confirm that:

( *Please  as appropriate )

 *Payee’s name is the same as the name of the school. (No documentary proof is required)

 *Payee’s name is NOT the same as the name of the school, and the Education Bureau is requested to pay the full amount of the above grant to________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

I understand and will abide by the applicable terms stipulated in the EDBCM No. 42/2022 on the One-off Relief Grant under the sixth round of AEF. A copy of the school’s Certificate of Registration and documentary proof showing the school is still in operation on the issue date of this circular memorandum are attached to this application.

Signature of Supervisor：

Name of Supervisor：

Date：

School Chop

(a) E-mail address for contact: __________________________________

(b) Contact Phone Number: ____________________________________

(c) Contact Person: Mr / Ms____________________________________