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Knowledge transfer, applicable learning, community giveback,
professional achievement.
The Special Educational Needs Empowerment Project for Pre-service Teachers (“the Project”) funded by the Lee Hysan Foundation is a two-year service-learning programme dedicated to pre-service students of The Hong Kong Institute of Education (“HKIEd”), with the aim of promoting among HKIEd students deeper and wider knowledge of the strategy to support students with special needs in order to foster a culturally inclusive learning environment. The Project will be implemented in three phases.
The Project is organized by the Centre for Special Educational Needs and Inclusive Education (“CSENIE”) of HKIEd. The programme is integrated into the teacher training programmes of the Department of Special Education and Counselling. With the input of resources for special education from the Education Bureau and support from various special schools and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), it uses the service learning mode to enhance prospective teachers’ confidence and competence in teaching students with special educational needs (“SEN students”), preparing them to be competent special teachers in the future.
To enable members of the public and studying students a better understanding of the progress of the Project, CSENIE held a kick-off ceremony and a small seminar on the programme in the morning of 20 December, 2014. The President, Ms Cecilia Ho of the sponsoring body, Lee Hysan Foundation, as well as representatives of the Education Bureau, special schools, NGOs and invited service-learning partners had attended and shared the details of the Project with students and witness the official launch of the Project.
During the ceremony, participants not only grasp the details of the Project and understand the service-learning mode, but also had the opportunity to communicate with representatives of service-learning partners to learn about the strategies and directions adopted by different NGOs to support children with special needs. It opens up more opportunities for autonomous learning among young people. |
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