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More than 500,000 adult students are expected to benefit from the $5 billion fund created to subsidise life-long learning.

Under the proposal, they will each receive a benefit up to $10,000.

The benefits apply to either secondary or tertiary courses offered by local accredited institutes that receive no government subsidies.

Studies related to logistics, tourism and entertainment, telecommunications, financial services, information technology and personal services such as care work and masseurs may receive priority.

The Secretary for Education and Manpower, Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun, said: 'The Chief Executive has indicated that general academic standards in Hong Kong are rather low compared to other countries.

'This is detrimental to the development of a knowledge-based society. The fund is to encourage people to carry on studying.'

The chairman of the Federation for Continuing Education in Tertiary Institutions, Charles Wong Kit-hung, said: 'You have to be selective about what kind of courses should be covered.

'Some schools may revise their courses according to the eligibility for the fund [to attract more students].'

There are about 700,000 working adults undertaking studies.

A committee will be set up soon to decide the criteria for subsidies before they are made available for application from April.

In another development, unemployed professionals could be given jobs teaching in schools under a move being considered by the Government.

The president of the 75,000-strong Professional Teachers' Union, Cheung Man-kwong, said the idea was worth more discussion. 'I have heard some middle-class people, especially IT professionals who got laid off recently, would like to work as teachers,' Mrs Law said. 'These people may consider teaching as their second choice. However, their experience may be beneficial to students.'

Director of Education Matthew Cheung Kin-chung had reservations about the plan.

'It's not that easy since teachers have to be qualified and registered,' he said. 'But they can help as teaching assistants in various areas such as economics, finance, IT and English. Anyone who would like to devote themselves to teaching should be allowed a chance.

'But it's difficult since on-the-job training courses are only available to those who are currently teaching.'

A member of the Advisory Committee on Teacher Education and Qualifications, Pauline Chow Lo-sai, said the plan was 'impossible'. 'They have no training. We can find enough qualified people to teach,' she said.



500,000 to benefit from adult learning boost