The Primary School Profiles 2004 has just been updated on the Internet, allowing parents to check the latest school information online. Printed copies will also be distributed to parents through kindergartens and childcare centres.

This is the fifth edition of the profiles featuring more than 700 schools and their basic data, like teacher information, school characteristics, facilities, class structure, timetables, extra-curricular activities and fees.

Published by the Committee on Home-School Co-operation, the profiles aim to promote school transparency and parents' right to information, which is provided voluntarily by schools and is valid as of last May.

15 million page hits so far

The new initiative has been well-received by parents recording 15 million page views (over 40,000 per day) and 700,000 visitors since the profiles went online last year.

Hong Kong Education City, which produces the web-based profiles, has recently enhanced the site's search engine, reducing search time by up to 80%.

The printed version consists of 18 district booklets. Parents of children entering Primary 1 in September 2005 will be given a booklet for their district through kindergartens and childcare centres. Each facility will be given two full sets of profiles for parents' reference.

Parents can also obtain a booklet while applying for Primary 1 Admission at the Education & Manpower Bureau's School Places Allocation Section.

More information

For details on the profiles, visit the committee's website or http://embhsc.hkedcity.net/primary/.

Copies of the profiles will also be kept at District Offices, public libraries, Regional Education Offices and the committee's Parents' Centre.