Background and Objectives

The establishment of the Quality Education Fund (hereafter “the Fund”) is to finance projects for the promotions of quality education in Hong Kong.

Blended mode of learning, i.e. face-to-face classes together with learning at home with electronic or other modes of learning, has become the “new normal” in teaching and learning. To support schools in implementing the blended mode of learning and teaching under the “new normal”, the Quality Education Fund (QEF) has implemented a three-year funding programme starting from the 2021/22 school year, to subsidise public sector primary and secondary schools (including special schools) and Direct Subsidy Scheme schools could apply for funding to purchase mobile computer devices for loan to needy students and to provide portable WiFi routers and mobile data cards to students who do not have access to appropriate Internet services due to the constraints in their living environment. This ensures all students have equal opportunities in accessing e-learning so that schools could effectively implement blended mode of teaching and learning under the new normal to facilitate learning and teaching.

The Education Bureau (EDB) has collected views from stakeholders through various channels. The school sector agrees that the programme is conducive in implementing the blended mode of learning and teaching, and cater for the learning needs of needy students. After reviewing the effectiveness of the programme, QEF has decided to extend the programme for three years to the 2026/27 school year. The Government is collecting more comprehensive data for planning long-term measures to support e-learning of needy students.

Student Beneficiaries

Students meeting the following criteria during the 2025/26 school year are eligible to benefit from the Funding Programme in the 2025/26 school year:

(i) those receiving the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) from the Social Welfare Department;

(ii) those receiving full grant/half grant of the School Textbook Assistance Scheme (STAS) from the Student Finance Office; or

(iii) those with limited economic means identified by schools.

Schools may establish their school-based criteria according to their school contexts and students’ family background for identifying students who are with limited economic means but are not receiving CSSA or STAS. The maximum number of students in this category is 10% of the number of student beneficiaries that meeting the criteria of CSSA and STAS in that school year.

Please refer to the e-circular 111 for application, complete and return the required reply slip and supporting documents to the class teacher by 29^th September, 2025.

For more information, please visit https://www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/applicable-to-primary-secondary/it-in-edu/ite-qef/qef_index.html