Quality Education Fund e-Learning Funding Programme—Provision of Mobile Computer Devices and Internet Services Support

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FAQs

Application Eligibility and Arrangement

A: When supporting students’ home learning, school may understand needy students’ Internet connection at home through reviewing their residential addresses (for instance, most public housing estates and new private properties can be connected to fixed broadband services). Besides, 5G broadband has become more popular to provide Internet access for some residences without fixed broadband services. Schools may collect further information from parents’ reply slip/consent form (schools may refer to the templates provided by the Education Bureau for reference) and request parents of needy students concerned to provide documentary proof if needed in order to ascertain whether their residences have appropriate Internet services.

Notes: Parents and students can contact the Internet service providers direct to obtain information concerning the fixed broadband network coverage of their residential addresses. The following are the hotlines and websites of some suppliers for reference:

Internet service providers	Hotlines	Websites
China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited	2945 8888	https://eshop.hk.chinamobile.com/en/broadband/home.html
Hong Kong Cable Television Limited	183 2832	http://www.cabletv.com.hk/en/subscription_coverage.php
Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT) Limited	1000	https://shop.hkt.com/broadband/pcdregistration.html?lang=en
Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited	128 100	https://www.hkbn.net/personal/broadband/en/
SmarTone Communications Limited / SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited	2880 2688	https://shop.smartone.com/en/Fibre_Broadband/#/a/a1/
HGC Global Communications Limited	1226	https://www.hgcbroadband.com/en/broadband

Level and Use of Subsidy

A: The amount of subsidy would be provided to each eligible student in two parts:

（i）

“Basic Funding”

Schools can apply for the “Basic Funding” for each eligible student once during the three-year implementation period of the Funding Programme, at a maximum of $4,700 per student, for purchasing the following items:

a mobile computer device with product warranty for three years;

[Note：Do not include other and maintenance-related services, e.g. pick-up and returning services of mobile computer devices on school campus]

a mobile device management system; and

[Note：Including installation and three-year usage fee]

basic accessories for meeting learning needs, including screen shield, protective cover, detachable keyboard, stylus pen, mouse and headset.

[Note：Schools may use subsidy to acquire all or some of the above items as needed, but should not use it to purchase other accessories or services, such as stylus pen protectors or engraving services. Schools should also avoid purchasing accessories serving duplicated functions, e.g., if a detachable keyboard that also protects the device is acquired, a separate device protector should not been purchased]

（ii）

“Additional Funding”

Schools can apply for the “Additional Funding” for purchasing items for financially needy students who are unable to acquire appropriate Internet services due to the constraints in their living environment.

For each student beneficiary, a maximum of $800 would be provided for purchasing portable WiFi router and/or mobile data cards in the student’s first application year. In the subsequent school year, depending on whether the students are still eligible, schools may apply for funding to purchase mobile data cards for them based on their actual needs, at a maximum of $450 per eligible student. The maximum amount of funding in the 2023/24 school year is as follows:

（i）

For students who benefited from this programme in the 2021/22 or 2022/23 school year, if they are still unable to acquire appropriate Internet services in the 2023/24 school year due to the constraints in their living environment, schools may apply for the “Additional Funding” for purchasing mobile data cards required for this school year at a maximum of $450 per eligible student.

（ii）

For newly eligible students in the 2023/24 school year, a maximum of $800 per eligible student would be provided for purchasing portable WiFi router and/or mobile data cards.

A: Schools shall determine their school-based arrangement on lending mobile computer devices and equipment to student beneficiaries by making reference to relevant guidelines, for example, “School Administration Guide” (applicable to aided schools and caput schools) or Education Bureau Internal Circular No. 2/2009 (applicable to government schools), and having regard to individual school circumstances such as e-learning implementation progress. Meanwhile, schools shall pay attention to the followings:

Key principles

Schools should provide appropriate support to student beneficiaries, for instance, maintenance of devices, timely update of application programmes/software/operating system, deployment of an effective mobile device management system, etc., to ensure proper operation and appropriate use of the devices.
Schools should cautiously handle the personal data of student beneficiaries and do not disclose the information to a third party unless deemed necessary.
Schools should establish an “Acceptable Use Policy” in order to govern students’ use of mobile computer devices and information. School may also consider whether it is necessary to sign agreement with parents on the loan arrangement according to school-based needs.

Loan arrangement of mobile computer devices and portable WiFi routers

Schools could make reference to the relevant guidelines in arranging the loan period of devices (For example, each loan period can be up to 6 months for government schools). In arranging a long-term loan, schools generally would require students to bring their mobile devices back to schools for lessons through the implementation of the “Bring Your Own Device” policy. In this connection, schools should also note that:

Schools should follow the relevant guidelines for proper management and records. For example, in accordance with Section 6.6.5 of the “School Administration Guide”, schools should maintain a “Loan Register” to record the loan information and conduct physical checking of assets at least once a year. The results and records of the checking should be retained properly.
If a student beneficiary does not receive Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) or School Textbook Assistance Scheme (STAS) in the next school year and continues to study in the school, the school can make school-based arrangements according to the student’s learning needs. If a student has installed personal learning tools or learning resources on the borrowed mobile computer device, the change of device would affect learning, the school can exercise its discretion to continue lending the device to the student in the next school year. If the student returns the mobile computer device to the school, the school should notify the Information Technology in Education Section of the Education Bureau to update the record of student beneficiaries, and arrange lending the returned equipment to a newly eligible student in the next school year.

Arrangement for mobile data cards

Schools should access the usage of mobile data required for students to participate e-learning at home based on their e-learning needs. Schools should not provide mobile data to students more than required in order to prevent students from excessive use of the Internet and avoid wastage of public money.
Schools should request students to submit application and eligibility proof every school year in confirming students’ eligibility, purchasing mobile data cards required and applying for funding.

Use of Funding and Procurement

Support

A: The Hong Kong Government has implemented the Real-name Registration Programme for SIM Cards. Starting from 1 March 2022, all newly issued SIM cards (including new pre-paid SIM (PPS) and SIM service plans (SSP) cards) must have the real-name registration completed before activation.

In general, schools may adopt the following 2 ways to provide SIM cards to students:

（i）

Provision of pre-paid SIM (PPS) cards

A user must purchase credits prior to use a pre-paid SIM card. In principle, it is the responsibility of the users (i.e. the students) to carry out the real-name registration before the SIM cards are activated. Schools may need to provide them assistance/guidance, particularly for the young students who do not have the technical support from their family members. The following information are provided for reference:

PPS SIM card users can follow the instructions of the registration notification as sent out by respective telecommunications operators via SMS messages (or other means) to complete registration via different channels, including retail shops, mobile applications or websites of the telecommunications operators. Users may visit the following website for the information of Real-name Registration of pre-paid SIM cards provided by Telecommunication Service Providers:
https://www.ofca.gov.hk/en/consumer_focus/guide/hot_topics/sim_registration/
reference_guide/index.html

Registration of young students aged below 16 requires endorsement of an adult, who may be their parents, relatives, guardians, or someone who has experience in dealing with the young students having special needs (e.g. a registered social worker). The personal particulars of the adult would also be registered.

Users/endorsers are required to present/upload their Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID) card for identification. If students (e.g. new migrant) do not have a HKID card, they can use other valid identification documents (such as valid travel documents or passports) as specified in the Regulation for completing real-name registration.

（ii）

Provision of SIM service plan (SSP) cards (i.e., monthly plan)

Many schools would purchase SIM service plan (SSP) (which covers a number of users) from the telecommunications operators. Schools would designate a responsible person to register for a pay monthly plan. Schools may refer to the following registration requirements and lending arrangements:

There is no upper limit on the number of registrable SSP cards. The SSP cards are registered by the responsible person of the school. The particulars of the responsible person, including (i) the number of the HKID (ii) the full name (iii) the date of birth; and also (iv) a copy of the HKID are required to provide during the registration process.

When lending SIM cards to students, schools may consider to formulate a lending agreement with the parent/student to remind the student of proper use and responsibilities. Schools may refer to the sample agreement for reference.