EDB announces details of Special Grant on Typhoon Disturbance for schools

    The Education Bureau (EDB) today (September 27) issued a circular memorandum to all public sector schools, schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS), and kindergartens which have joined the Kindergarten Education Scheme (KG Scheme), announcing details about the provision of the Special Grant on Typhoon Disturbance.
 
    An EDB spokesman said, "Typhoon Mangkhut wreaked havoc in Hong Kong and at the same time caused varying degrees of damage to school premises. To help schools pay the extra cost to be borne as a result of their recovery works subsequent to the typhoon, the EDB will provide the Special Grant on Typhoon Disturbance to all government schools, aided schools including special schools, caput schools, DSS schools and kindergartens which have joined the KG Scheme according to the actual expenses of schools."
 
    The basic ceiling of the special grant for public sector schools and DSS schools is $150,000 each, and that for kindergartens which have joined the KG Scheme is $50,000 each. Schools can submit applications to the EDB based on their actual needs on or before November 30, 2018. The special grant is expected to be disbursed to schools in January 2019. In case of special circumstances whereby schools need to apply for an amount of subsidy exceeding the basic ceiling, they are required to explain their special circumstances and the EDB will consider such applications prudently on a case-by-case basis.
 
    Public sector schools can use the special grant to cover the expenditure incurred from the cleaning up, repair works, replacement of standard facilities/equipment within school premises, or procurement of necessary items as a result of the typhoon, and which cannot be covered by the Emergency Repairs mechanism but have to be carried out as soon as possible. These include emergency restoration works which need to be conducted out of safety concerns or for enabling expeditious resumption of normal school operation, such as removal and trimming of fallen trees, clearing of waste from school campus, minor repairs and cleaning of school premises/facilities and equipment, etc.
 
    Caput schools, DSS schools and kindergartens which have joined the KG Scheme can also use the special grant to pay for the costs of emergency repairs and replacement of standard facilities within their school premises, including repairs of doors, windows, fences, pipes on external walls, outdoor lighting facilities, etc, which have been damaged by strong winds.
 
    The spokesman said that with the concerted efforts of various parties, all schools have now resumed classes. The EDB will continue to maintain close contact with schools and the sector to better understand their needs and offer support.