Quality Education Fund e-Learning Funding Programme—Provision of Mobile Computer Devices and Internet Services Support

Home | What's New | Forms & References | FAQs

FAQs

Application Eligibility and Arrangement

A: When supporting students’ home learning, school may understand needy students’ Internet connection at home through reviewing their residential addresses (for instance, most public housing estates and new private properties can be connected to fixed broadband services). Besides, 5G broadband has become more popular to provide Internet access for some residences without fixed broadband services. Schools may collect further information from parents’ reply slip/consent form (schools may refer to the templates provided by EDB for reference) and request parents of needy students concerned to provide documentary proof if needed in order to ascertain whether their residences have appropriate Internet services.

Note: Parents and students can contact the Internet service providers direct to obtain information concerning the fixed broadband network coverage of their residential addresses. The following are the hotlines and websites of some suppliers for reference:

Internet service providers	Hotlines	Websites
China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited	2945 8888	https://www.hk.chinamobile.com/en/home-family/broadband
Hong Kong Cable Television Limited	183 2832	https://service.i-cable.com/ CHI
Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT) Limited	1000	https://shop.hkt.com/broadband/pcdregistration.html?lang=en
Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited	128 100	https://www.hkbn.net/personal/broadband/en/
SmarTone Communications Limited / SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited	2880 2688	https://shop.smartone.com/en/Fibre_Broadband/#/a/a1/
HGC Global Communications Limited	1226	https://www.hgcbroadband.com/en/broadband

Level and Use of Subsidy

A: The amount of subsidy would be provided to each eligible student in two main parts:

（i）

“Basic Funding”

Schools can apply for the “Basic Funding” for each eligible student once during the three-year implementation period of the Funding Programme, at a maximum of $4,900 per student, for purchasing the following items:

a mobile computer device with product warranty for three years;

[Note：Do not include other and maintenance-related services, e.g. pick-up and returning services of mobile computer devices on school campus]

a mobile device management system; and

[Note：Including installation and up to three-year usage fee*]

basic accessories for meeting learning needs, including screen shield, protective cover, detachable keyboard, stylus pen, mouse and headset.

[Note：Schools may use subsidy to acquire all or some of the above items as needed, but should not use it to purchase other accessories or services, such as stylus pen protectors or engraving services. Schools should also avoid purchasing accessories serving duplicated functions, e.g., if a detachable keyboard that also protects the device is acquired, a separate device protector should not been purchased]

（ii）

“Additional Funding”

Schools could apply for the “Additional Funding” for purchasing portable WiFi routers for loan to needy students who are unable to acquire appropriate Internet services due to the constraints in their living environment and/or providing them with mobile data cards. The amount of funding will be calculated based on the actual need of the students concerned in each school year. The maximum amount of funding is as follows:

A maximum of $800 per newly eligible student would be provided for acquiring portable WiFi router and mobile data cards.

[Note：Schools that have participated in the Funding Programme between the 2021/22 and 2023/24 school years are reminded that new routers are not required to be acquired if the number of routers returned is sufficient for loan to newly eligible students in the 2024/25 school year. Please refer to paragraph 16 of EDB Circular Memorandum No. 121/2024 for details.]

For students who benefited from the Funding Programme in the 2023/24 school year or before, if they are still unable to acquire appropriate Internet services in the 2024/25 school year due to the constraints in their living environment, schools may apply for the “Additional Funding” for purchasing mobile data cards required for this school year at a maximum of $450 per eligible student.

*Besides, if schools have acquired mobile computing devices through this Funding Programme in the 2021/22 school year, schools should continue to arrange loaning these devices which have been used for more than three years and function properly to needy students for e-learning. Schools may apply for funding to cover the relevant cost for using MDM in the 2024/25 school year.

A: Schools shall determine their school-based arrangement on lending mobile computer devices and equipment to student beneficiaries by making reference to relevant guidelines, for example, “School Administration Guide” (applicable to aided schools and caput schools) or Education Bureau Internal Circular No. 2/2009 (applicable to government schools), and having regard to individual school circumstances such as e-learning implementation progress. Meanwhile, schools shall pay attention to the followings:

Key principles

Schools should provide appropriate support to student beneficiaries, for instance, maintenance of devices, timely update of application programmes/software/operating system, deployment of an effective mobile device management system, etc., to ensure proper operation and appropriate use of the devices.
Schools should cautiously handle the personal data of student beneficiaries and do not disclose the information to a third party unless deemed necessary.
Schools should establish an “Acceptable Use Policy” in order to govern students’ use of mobile computer devices and information. School may also consider whether it is necessary to sign agreement with parents on the loan arrangement according to school-based needs.

Loan arrangement of mobile computer devices and portable WiFi routers

Schools could make reference to the relevant guidelines in arranging the loan period of devices (For example, each loan period can be up to 6 months for government schools). In arranging a long-term loan, schools generally would require students to bring their mobile devices back to schools for lessons through the implementation of the “Bring Your Own Device” policy. In this connection, schools should note the followings:

Schools should follow the relevant guidelines for proper management and records. For example, in accordance with Section 6.6.5 of the “School Administration Guide”, schools should maintain a “Loan Register” to record the loan information and conduct physical checking of assets at least once a year. The results and records of the checking should be retained properly.
If a student beneficiary does not receive Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) or School Textbook Assistance Scheme (STAS) in the next school year and continues to study in the school, the school can make school-based arrangements according to the student’s learning needs. If a student has installed personal learning tools or learning resources on the borrowed mobile computer device, the change of device would affect learning, the school can exercise its discretion to continue lending the device to the student in the next school year (However, EDB will not subsidize students who are no longer eligible to replace devices). If the student returns the mobile computer device to the school, the school should notify the Information Technology in Education (ITE) Section of EDB to update the record of student beneficiaries, and arrange lending the returned equipment to a newly eligible student in the next school year.

Arrangement for mobile data cards

Schools should access the usage of mobile data required for students to participate e-learning at home based on their e-learning needs. Schools should not provide mobile data to students more than required in order to prevent students from excessive use of the Internet and avoid wastage of public money.
Schools should request students to submit application and eligibility proof every school year in confirming students’ eligibility, purchasing mobile data cards required and applying for funding.

Use of Funding and Procurement

Support