Community Care Fund – After-school Care Pilot Scheme

Introduction

To address increasing community demands for after-school care services, the Community Care Fund Steering Committee has reserved $40 million to launch the After-school Care Pilot Scheme (“the Scheme”) in the 2012/13 school year. The Education Bureau will implement the Scheme. Schools and non-government organisations (NGO) will collaborate to provide after-school care to needy primary one to secondary three students from low-income families. The Scheme aims to identify the most needy students, to co-ordinate and integrate after-school learning and supplementary activities for them, so that apart from participating in existing after-school activities provided by schools or other organisations, the students can make a better use of their time before they return home for dinner and consolidate their classroom learning. In March 2013, the Commission on Poverty has endorsed to extend the Scheme for one more year, to 2013/14 school year.

In 2013/14 school year, the target beneficiaries are primary one to secondary three students from Public Sector schools (including Special schools) and Direct Subsidy Scheme schools. They should mainly come from families receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) or receive full fee / half fee reimbursement from the student financial assistance schemes of the Student Financial Assistance Agency. Participating schools or NGOs have discretion to include needy students not receiving the CSSA or full fee / half fee reimbursement from the student financial assistance schemes, but the number of these students should not exceed 25% of the total number of students.

Briefing Sessions

The Education Bureau held two briefing sessions on 5 January 2012 to introduce to schools and NGOs the objectives, operational details and other related issues of the Scheme.

Related Materials (2013/14 school year)

EDB Circular Memorandum No. 56/2013 (Chinese version only)

Annex 1: Proposal template (Chinese version only)

Annex 2: Rules and requirements for application and disbursement (Chinese version only)