Incentive schemes will be formed to encourage the public and private sectors to develop quality instructional software to help teachers respond to the challenge of using IT for curriculum and pedagogical innovations, Secretary for Education & Manpower Professor Arthur Li says.

Launching the Hong Kong International IT in Education Conference 2006 today, Professor Li said the Government will provide teachers with professional development opportunities and support.

He said teachers are key players in providing the environment for learning and driving reforms. They are also indispensable for implementing new teaching approaches using IT in the classroom and facilitating students to acquire skills for lifelong learning in the information age.

He said the second IT in education strategy - Empowering Learning & Teaching with Information Technology is being implemented for the 2004-07 school year. Learning Centres have been set up for teachers to develop and share IT skills, and provide IT leadership training for school heads.

About 1,500 people are taking part in the three-day conference at the Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Platform for collaboration

The conference will enhance information sharing, good practice dissemination and provide a platform of collaboration for teachers and stakeholders.

It features six keynote speeches, 13 teaching demonstrations, 180 presentations, more than 20 workshops, over 100 paper presentations and 40 poster displays and exhibitions.

Keynote speeches will be conducted by internationally renowned academics, including Professor Li Kedong from the Mainland, Professor Looi Chee-kit from Singapore, Professor Chan Tak-wai from Taiwan, Professor Stephen Heppell from the UK, Professor Barry Fishman from the US and Professor Eduardo Chaves from Brazil.

Details are available here. For enquiries call 2509 3430 or email hkitec2006@mphk.com.