About 5,000 retirees are expected to take lessons at 32 'senior academies' in a pilot scheme funded by the Elderly Commission.
The lessons cover subjects including personal health care, computing, English and tai chi, and are being jointly organised by NGOs and primary and secondary schools in different districts.
Primary and secondary school pupils will act as volunteer teachers and the schools will lend classrooms for the lessons. The retirees will attend lessons once or twice a week and most courses will last for three to six months.
At ceremonies held in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long yesterday to launch the academies, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said the government hoped the scheme would promote interaction between the older and younger generation.
'Young people have a lot of new knowledge and technology skills, while the elderly people have rich life experience. We hope to provide an opportunity for them to share these with each other,' he said.
Mr Cheung said the scheme also aimed to encourage the elderly to enjoy their retirement.
'At the moment, about one in eight people is aged over 65. By 2033, one in four will be over 65. Elderly welfare and services is one of the government's main focuses.'