The Education Bureau today issued letters or circular memorandum to all kindergartens, private primary and secondary day schools as well as tutorial schools to inform them of the details of a one-off grant under the Anti-epidemic Fund.

The bureau said following the approval of the third round of the fund by the Legislative Council Finance Committee on September 28, it has made immediate arrangements for progressively disbursing subsidies related to the areas of education.

It said the one-off grant aims to alleviate the concerned schools’ financial hardship arising from the suspension of face-to-face teaching due to COVID-19.

The grant ranging from $30,000 to $80,000 will be provided to each kindergarten and private primary and secondary day school.

The additional expenditure is estimated to be $67.5 million, benefitting some 1,000 kindergartens and about 180 private primary and secondary day schools.

Schools joining the kindergarten education scheme will receive a grant ranging from $30,000 to $80,000, depending on their types, ie half-day, whole-day and long whole-day and sizes, while non-scheme kindergartens will each receive a grant of $40,000.

Private primary and secondary day schools, including English Schools Foundation, international, private independent and other private primary and secondary day schools offering a formal curriculum will each receive $40,000.

Regarding tutorial schools, a one-off relief grant of $20,000 will be given to each school registered under the Education Ordinance on or before the resumption of face-to-face classes by phases on September 23 and in operation on the circular memorandum's date of issuance.

The additional expenditure is estimated to be $60 million, benefitting some 3,000 tutorial schools.

Depending on the disbursement arrangements for respective grants, the bureau will disburse the subsidy to schools about one month after obtaining the funding from the fund or in about one month upon receipt of fully completed application forms or payees' information.