Archive Consultation Papers and Consultancy Reports Information Technology for Learning in a New Era Five-Year Strategy 1998/99 to 2002/03

Foreword In his Inaugural Policy Address, the Chief Executive the Hon. TUNG Chee Hwa pledged to make Hong Kong "a leader, not a follower, in the information world of tomorrow". To realise this vision, four key enabling factors are identified, one of which is the need to empower our people with the know-how to use information technology (IT). An important process in pursuit of this goal is the application of IT to enhance the effectiveness of teaching and learning so that our students will be equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to meet the challenges of the information age. In June this year, we issued a document "Information Technology for Quality Education: 5-Year Strategy: 1998/99 to 2002/03" for two months' public consultation. A total of 85 written submissions have been received and many people have also expressed views through the media. We are glad that the document has attracted a good deal of attention and are grateful for the many useful and constructive comments forwarded to us. In the light of these, we have finalised and refined our proposals in the consultation document. To certain extent, this finalised strategy could be viewed as a product of collective efforts of the education sector and the community at large. Likewise and more importantly, its success requires collaboration among Government, schools, students, parents and the community. After a rigorous and useful debate on the consultation document, we now need a broad consensus from which to charge ahead, and we hope this strategy will serve this purpose. At the same time, this strategy should be viewed as a "live" document capable of enrichment and refinement in the light of technological advancement, actual experience, and the changing needs of the society.