A new Composite Information Technology Grant will be available in the 2004-05 school year to provide greater flexibility in managing school resources in accordance with their needs and reduce administrative work.

Each school will receive the grant ranging from $190,000 to $280,000 per year depending on its class structure, the Education & Manpower Bureau said today.

The composite grant has merged four others - the Recurrent Grant of the Multimedia Computer for Primary School Project, Recurrent Grant of the IT in Education Project, Incentive Grant for extending the opening hours of schools' computer facilities, and the cash grant for employing on-site Technical Support Service officers or hiring Technical Support Services from a contractor.

Schools can freely use the composite grant on various IT in education initiatives to meet their actual needs and for better planning.

While providing schools with greater flexibility, the bureau has set out various commitment indicators to help schools in using such grants in support of IT in education projects, technical support services and other IT for education purposes.

The rates will be subject to the annual adjustment in accordance with the movement of the Composite Consumer Price Index for the 2004-05 school year as well as subsequent years.

For enquiries, schools can contact the Information Technology Education Resource Centre on 3123 8126 or 3123 8127.