Education Bureau Launches AI Program to Enhance Science Teaching Effectiveness in Secondary Schools

EDB holds sharing session on "Use of Artificial Intelligence for Enhancing Teaching Effectiveness in Science (Secondary 1-3)" and launch of AI for Science Education Funding Programme

The Education Bureau (EDB) today (June 9) held a sharing session on the "Use of Artificial Intelligence for Enhancing Teaching Effectiveness in Science (Secondary 1-3)" to explore and share how AI can be used to foster pedagogical innovations, thereby enhancing teaching effectiveness, and the launch of the AI for Science Education Funding Programme at the Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre.

The Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, officiated at the launch with the chairpersons of the Committee on Professional Development of Teachers and Principals, the Quality Education Fund (QEF) Steering Committee, the Association of Principals of Government Secondary Schools, the Hong Kong Subsidized Secondary Schools Council, and the Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools Council. Speaking at the event, Dr Sze said that in order to tie in with the national strategy of invigorating the country through science and education, and the promotion of digital education development in recent years, the Chief Executive has put forward a number of key initiatives to step up the promotion of digital education in the 2024 Policy Address.

He said that under the AI for Science Education Funding Programme, the QEF would provide funding of $100,000 to each applicant school for arranging professional training for teachers, implementing AI-empowered classroom teaching, promoting the application of AI in different learning scenarios, as well as enhancing adaptive learning among students. The programme has received an overwhelming response, with over 220 publicly funded secondary schools participating, reflecting that the school sector is actively seizing the opportunity to make good use of AI to assist teaching.

Dr Sze said that the EDB will continue to arrange AI-related training for teachers and support schools in developing AI-empowered teaching through various measures, such as producing learning and teaching examples and arranging sharing by experts, with a view to promoting pedagogical innovations and enhancing students' learning effectiveness. He expressed his hope for schools, teachers, different stakeholders and the EDB to work together to continuously explore the myriad possibilities of integrating AI into teaching, and to provide students with personalised and more forward-looking learning experiences.

During the sharing session, experts and scholars delivered keynote speeches on how to use AI to provide adaptive learning and conduct scientific inquiries to help inspire participants from theory to practice. Participating teachers also shared their school-based experiences on using AI platforms in junior secondary science, demonstrating how AI technology can be used to enhance teaching effectiveness. In addition, the event also featured an "AI × Science" demonstration session for participants to experience firsthand the application of AI in science teaching, creating a lively atmosphere. The sharing session attracted over 300 participants, including representatives from tertiary institutions, secondary school principals and teachers to witness the achievements and future potential of AI-empowered teaching.

For details on the sharing session and the AI for Science Education Funding Programme, please visit the programme's webpage (www.edb.gov.hk/aiforsci).

EDB holds sharing session on "Use of Artificial Intelligence for Enhancing Teaching Effectiveness in Science (Secondary 1-3)" and launch of AI for Science Education Funding Programme Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

EDB holds sharing session on "Use of Artificial Intelligence for Enhancing Teaching Effectiveness in Science (Secondary 1-3)" and launch of AI for Science Education Funding Programme Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

EDB holds sharing session on "Use of Artificial Intelligence for Enhancing Teaching Effectiveness in Science (Secondary 1-3)" and launch of AI for Science Education Funding Programme Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

New control on regulated mercury-added products to take effect on December 31

The control for newly regulated mercury-added products under the newly amended Mercury Control Ordinance (Cap. 640) will take effect on December 31, 2025, covering eight newly regulated mercury-added products (see Annex).

The Government completed the amendments to the Mercury Control Ordinance in June this year to implement amendments adopted at the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury to gradually phase out mercury-added products that are harmful to human health or the environment, so as to reduce the opportunities of the public's exposure to these mercury-added products for safeguarding public health and protecting the environment.

An Environmental Protection Department (EPD) spokesman said, "Once the amendments to the Ordinance come into effect, the manufacture, import, export and supply of the relevant regulated mercury-added products will be prohibited. Anyone who contravenes the above regulations commits an offence and, upon conviction, is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for one year."

Under the new measure, the Government has set a grace period for the supply of newly regulated mercury-added products (not applicable to production, import and export of the related product) until January 2029. After the grace period, if anyone continues to supply the relevant regulated mercury-added products, the authorities will initiate prosecution after collecting sufficient evidence.

To help the trades understand the new control requirements, the EPD has earlier written to stakeholders, including importers, exporters and distributors of the concerned mercury-added products, to detail the implementation specifics of the new controls, and has conducted visits to stakeholders to provide guidance.

Relevant information has been uploaded to the EPD's dedicated website (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/international_conventions/mercury/mco.html). For any enquiries regarding the newly amended Mercury Control Ordinance, please contact the EPD at 2838 3111 or via email at enquiry@epd.gov.hk.

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD), Photo source: news.gov.hk