A sharp drop in the scale and number of collaborations between schools and universities is being predicted following the Quality Education Fund's decision that only schools may apply for its next funding round.
Only pre-primary, primary, secondary and special schools have been invited to apply for the fifth round of funding from next month, and then only if they do not have QEF projects that will be ongoing in September next year.
The policy will mean a slash in funding for projects initiated by local universities, community groups and the Education Department. It also means that about 380 schools with QEF projects in progress are barred from applying to the fund this time.
Unlike previous rounds, proposals must fall into at least one of three designated themes: project learning or curriculum integration, moral and civic education, and reading proficiency.
The requirement applies to all schools except newcomers to the QEF, the latter including those that have previously only secured funds for installing air-conditioners. Only one application per school will be considered.
The QEF was inaugurated in 1998 with a $5 billion government grant and a wide-ranging remit to improve education at all formal levels.
Professor Cheng Shiu-yuen, associate dean of the Faculty of Science at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, said that last week's decision was 'incomprehensible' and contradicted the Government's intent that every sector should push forward education reforms. He anticipated that it would become much more difficult for universities to carry out large-scale collaboration projects with schools.
