Life-wide Learning and Sister School Grant -Key Highlights of the New System for the 2025/26 Academic Year.

I. Core Changes in Subsidy Integration

Items	New System Starting from the 2025/26 Academic Year	Integrated Original Subsidies
Name	Life-wide Learning and Sister School Grant	Life-wide Learning Grant, Grant for the Sister School Scheme and Outdoor Education Camp Scheme subsidy
Applicable Schools	All public sector schools (including special schools) and DSS schools	Same as above
Purpose of Integration	To improve flexibility, utilisation and synergy	Addressing Issues of Original Subsidy Dispersion

II. New Subsidy Structure and Calculation Method

(1) Public and Directly Funded Primary/Secondary Schools (excluding special schools)

Component	Calculation Formula	Remarks
Life-wide Learning Grant	Primary: $1,100/student/year Secondary: $1,500/student/year	Based on student count as of September each year
Grant for the Sister School Scheme	$165,000/school/year	Requires verification of mainland sister school records by the Education Bureau
Minimum Guarantee Amount	No less than $300,000/school	Schools without a sister school will only receive $135,000
Subsidy Cap	Cannot exceed the total amount of the two original subsidies from the 2024/25 academic year	Refer to Appendix II for calculation examples

(2) Special Schools

Items	Calculation Formula
Life-wide Learning Grant	Calculated according to the formula for the 2024/25 academic year, based on the approved number of classes
Grant for the Sister School Scheme	Continues to use the quota from the 2024/25 academic year ($165,439 per school per academic year)

 II. Applicable Scope and Limitations

Allowed Uses (Must Align with Curriculum Objectives)

✅Learning Activities

-Mainland educational exchange activities, local and non-local study tours, and outdoor education camps

- Five essential learning experiences, i.e. values education, intellectual development

-Patriotic education, STEAM, Student mental health

✅Sister School Exchanges

-Teacher-student visits, collaborative lesson planning, management seminars

-Expenses for co-organized activities within the region (including reasonable catering)

✅ Equipment and Services

- Procure equipment and software(≤15% of Annual total expenditure)

-Hiring external professionals to assist with activities

-Comprehensive group travel insurance, Expenses on the visa for students and teachers(≤5%) 

Prohibited Uses

❌Employing teaching or non-teaching staff

❌Personal Consumption(i.e. Travel Insurance, Souvenirs)

❌Academic practice materials, parents’ activity expenses

❌School renovation/ construction works, electronic equipment (non-activity-specific)

IV. Operational Guidelines

Items	Requirements
Financial Managements	-Establish an independent ledger. -Funding for subsidized, per-student, and direct-funded schools will be issued in two installments (October and April). -Government schools will adopt a budget allocation system.
Handling of Surplus	Surplus can be carried over to the next academic year, but any remaining old subsidy must be returned by August 31, 2026.
Reporting Deadline	Records for mainland sister schools must be updated by June 2025 (see Attachment 5 form).
Safety Compliance	Adhere to the "Guidelines for Overseas Study Activities" and procurement procedures (Education Bureau Circular No. 4/2013)

V. Transition Arrangements

• Surplus from the 2024/25 academic year may be used until the 2025/26 academic year but must remain in the original account.

• By August 31, 2026, any unspent old subsidy surplus must be fully returned to the Education Bureau.

Annex 2: Examples of calculation

(1) For public sector and DSS Primary and secondary schools

Example	Total number of students	Schools which have reported their Mainland sister schools to the EDB	Calculation Formula	Actural Provision	Reason
Primary School A	648	✓	$648×$1,100+$165,000=$877,800	$877,800	Not Exceeding the Limit
Secondary School B	594	✗	$594×$1,500=$891,000	$891,000	Not Exceeding the Limit
Primary School C	884	✓	$884×$1,100+$165,000=$1,137,400	$1,126,323	Exceeding Total Cap for 2024/25
Primary School D	100	✓	$100×$1,100+$165,000=$275,000	$300,000	Exceeding Total Cap for 2024/25

(2) For special schools

Example	Number of Classes (Primary)	Number of Classes (Secondary)	Schools which have reported their Mainland sister schools to the EDB	Allocation of the LWLSSG for the respective school year
Special School E	6	6	✓	$160,154 + (6×$26,691) + (6×$44,844) + $165,439 = $754,803
Special School F	8	9	✗	$160,154 + (8×$26,691) + (9×$44,844) = $777,278