Tycoon Li Ka-shing believes that you never stop learning. He said what you can glean from experience is just as important as what you can gain from books.
With the support of the Education Department, the Li Ka Shing Foundation has donated $7 million to sponsor a Millennium Study Tour for 1,000 local students this summer. The senior secondary students will travel in small groups to the mainland, Southeast Asia, Europe, America and Australia to experience different cultures and customs. The tours will focus on environmental protection and new technologies, and every itinerary will be carefully planned to create a meaningful summer activity for the students.
According to the foundation's spokesman, the study tour was designed to produce students with an excellent academic record and fine moral character. 'We hope that through their travel experi ence, the students can broaden their horizons and get to know people from different cultures and backgrounds,' the spokesman said.
'We will also be sending 50 teachers recommended by the Steering Committee on District Teacher Network to act as chaperons on the tour.
'Their itineraries will include visits to sights related to environmental protection and new technologies. We will invite local university and environmental agency staff to give lectures to the students with the aim of increasing their understanding of these two major trends of the 21st century.
The Millennium Study Tour welcomes all government and government-subsidised secondary schools to nominate Form Four to Form Seven students. It is estimated that each of the nearly 500 secondary schools will be allotted two spaces. Details of the nomination procedure will be announced by the Education Department in late March.
