Under the "Five-Year Strategy on Information Technology for Learning in a New Era", students' and teachers' competence in basic computer operations and Internet use has improved, Secretary for Education & Manpower Arthur Li says.

In reply to a question about the strategy's effectiveness in the Legislative Council today, Mr Li said the bureau introduced the 5-year strategy in 1998, to promote IT in education and assist teachers and schools in improving the quality of teaching through IT applications.

Over the last five years, a number of related projects have been successfully completed with substantial results.

Mr Li also noted that in 2001 the University of Hong Kong found in a "Preliminary Study on Reviewing the Progress and Evaluating the Information Technology in Education Projects" some schools have successfully adopted innovative teaching practices using IT to support the curriculum and teaching reforms.

There is a wealth of cases relating to IT in education that the bureau and schools have pooled over the past five years. Teachers may draw from it for experience sharing or reference.

What's more, during the class-suspension period at the height of the SARS outbreak, many schools capitalised on the use of Internet e-learning platforms to continue teaching and learning. These show that IT is becoming increasingly popular in facilitating teaching and learning.

The Government will continue to strengthen teacher training as well as cooperation with schools and the industry with a view to further promoting IT in education, Mr Li added.

From 1998 to June 2003, a total of HK$2.08 billion was provided to implement such initiatives.

Since 1998, more than HK$1.5 billion has been allocated from the Quality Education Fund to support IT projects in schools , including the "Digital Bridge" scheme - which aimed to provide poorer students with computers - and the establishment of the "HKEdCity" website.