Hong Kong Allocates HK$500 Million To Bring AI Into Classrooms: What Government Education Leaders Need To Know
The Hong Kong government has launched a three-year programme to accelerate AI use in schools. Each approved public primary or secondary school will receive a one-off HK$500,000, with about HK$500 million set aside in total.
Funding can cover AI tools and equipment, with a clear requirement: schools must deploy AI in at least three subjects. The programme begins this school year.
Who's Eligible and How to Apply
- Public primary and secondary schools
- Special needs schools
- Direct funding institutions
Applications are due by February this year. Approved schools will receive funds by June 30 and can use them until August 2028.
"Successful applicants will receive one-off funding of HK$500,000," said Jeff Sze Chun-fai, Undersecretary for Education and chairman of the Steering Committee on Digital Education, which was formed in January last year to advance digital education strategy.
What the Funding Can Cover
- Subscriptions to vetted AI tools (e.g., learning platforms, assessment aids, language tools)
- On-premise or edge devices to run AI locally where needed
- Implementation support and essential integrations for classroom use
- Teacher enablement resources tied directly to classroom adoption
For programme details and official notices, refer to the Education Bureau (EDB).
Key Dates and Milestones
- Now: Prepare proposal and cross-subject plan (minimum three subjects)
- By February: Submit application
- By June 30: Funding disbursed to approved schools
- Through August 2028: Use funds and complete implementation
Implementation Checklist for School Leaders
- Curriculum plan: Identify three or more subjects where AI adds clear learning value; define outcomes and measurement.
- Procurement readiness: Shortlist compliant vendors; document selection criteria and value-for-money assessment.
- Data protection: Verify privacy, security, and data retention policies; restrict student data exposure; enable audit logs.
- Access controls: Age-appropriate settings, usage limits, and content filters; admin oversight by default.
- Equity and inclusion: Ensure accessibility features and accommodations for special needs settings.
- Teacher enablement: Provide practical training, classroom playbooks, and ongoing support.
- Pilots and scale-up: Start with controlled pilots, gather evidence, then expand to full cohorts.
- Monitoring and reporting: Track learning outcomes, teacher workload effects, and cost performance.
Governance and Risk Controls
- AI usage policy: Define acceptable use for teachers and students, including citation standards and misuse handling.
- Content quality: Require human review for assessments, feedback, and sensitive content.
- Bias and fairness: Test tools for subject accuracy and potential bias across languages and learner profiles.
- Vendor obligations: Contracts should cover uptime, data residency, incident response, and model update disclosures.
Strategic Context
The three-year programme supports the city's push to strengthen digital education in primary and secondary schools. Last year, the Chief Executive signalled stronger backing for digital learning, and this fund operationalises that promise with clear timelines, funding, and scope.
Practical Next Steps
- Form a small task group (curriculum lead, IT lead, SEN coordinator, compliance officer).
- Pick three subjects with quick wins and measurable outcomes.
- Run vendor demos with real lesson plans; validate privacy and classroom fit before purchase.
- Set success metrics now (learning gains, lesson prep time saved, student engagement).
- Submit the application by February and line up procurement so deployment starts soon after funds arrive.
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