Mapping out the future: Youngsters can find plenty of information on further studies and career at the two-day Expo for Secondary School Leavers at Plaza Hollywood in Diamond Hill.

Education and employment training opportunities for secondary school leavers have increased in recent years as a result of the Government's efforts in promoting diversified alternatives on further studies, and the introduction of various employment training schemes.

Officiating at the launch of the Information Expo for Secondary School Leavers today, Deputy Secretary for Education & Manpower Philip Chok said there will be 18 institutions offering self-financing post-secondary courses.

Together with publicly-funded places, 21,000 full-time sub-degree places will be on offer in 2003-04.

The institutions offer a wide range of courses, including new ones to cope with economic development such as leisure and tourism management, logistics and transport operations, beauty and health therapy.

He also revealed that post-secondary education will continue to be expanded, with about 9,000 additional places made available between 2006 and 2008 through the recent granting of sites to four post-secondary institutions for their purpose-built premises.

To create additional articulation opportunities for sub-degree holders, he said that subject to availability of resources, the number of second and third-year places of publicly-funded undergraduate programmes will go up during the 2005-08 triennium.

For Secondary Five school leavers, Mr Chok said Project Yi Jin, a scheme targeting those with different abilities and aspirations, has helped to enhance the students' self image, confidence and interpersonal relationships.

About 60% of the project's students have obtained the full certificate in the first two years. Over half of them have proceeded to pursue further studies while about 30% of them have got employment.

To move forward, new elective courses on tourism and hospitality, hotel management, digital music and image production, and Japanese catering will be offered under the project in 2003-04.

On the initiatives to upgrade Hong Kong's manpower quality and competitiveness, it is proposed to establish a qualifications framework and an associated quality assurance mechanism, which will facilitate individuals to map out their own way for skills upgrading and life-long learning.

Also officiating at the event, Deputy Commissioner for Labour Jennie Chor announced the commencement of the joint application for the department's Youth Pre-employment Training Programme and Youth Work Experience & Training Scheme. The training capacity of the former has been increased by 6,000, to 18,000.

A referral system has also been introduced to provide young people with comprehensive employment counselling and training so as to increase their employability, she added.

The deadline for application is August 18.

For more information on further studies and career opportunities for secondary school leavers, please visit www.info.gov.hk/info/secschool_e.htm.