SENSE

(The following information is provided by the school.)

 

Background

HHCKLA Buddhist Po Kwong School is a special school founded on March 1, 1988 by Heung Hoi Ching Kok Lin Association.

With the spirit of "equality for all beings and education without discrimination," the school provides quality education for children with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities from primary to senior secondary levels.

The school has the esteemed Venerable Jue Guang as its perpetual Honorary Chancellor, and the current Chancellor is Master Guo De. In 1988, they transformed the old premises of the HHCKLA Buddhist Ching Kok Lin Association School into a special school to address the issue of insufficient educational opportunities for intellectually disabled children in the Northern New Territories. At that time, Po Kwong School was a single-story village school with only five classes and approximately seventy students.

In 1996, the former Education Bureau approved a redevelopment plan for the original site. The new school buildings were completed in March 2001, adopting a millennium design with three four-story buildings. In order to accommodate the comprehensive development of the senior secondary curriculum in the special school and meet the needs of the district, a new teaching building and student dormitories were completed in 2021. In the same year, the school expanded its services to provide residential care for students with moderate intellectual disability, providing them with a "home-like" environment.

The school adheres to the educational principles of the organization “Awakening, Righteousness, Conduct, and Etiquette” (覺正行儀) and is committed to nurturing students' morality, developing their multiple intelligences, and implementing holistic education. The school and parents work together to care for the students with love and dedication.

Highlight

Under the concept of "a unified curriculum framework," our school provides students with a broad and balanced curriculum, emphasizing diverse learning experiences and the cultivation of values and career planning, aiming for the holistic development of students.

Our school places a strong emphasis on nurturing students' creativity and innovative thinking through activities such as installation art, STREAM (Science, Technology, Robotics, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) practical activities, and programming, encouraging students to unleash their creativity and develop problem-solving skills. We also employ different teaching strategies in various subjects to help students master self-learning skills, such as Chinese language reading techniques, mathematical problem-solving skills, and general knowledge visual analysis skills. Our school organizes subject-based "Life-Wide Learning Days" that incorporate elements of positive education, allowing students to learn by doing and gain hands-on experience.

To ensure smooth transition to higher education and prepare students for adult life, our school offers personal growth courses that provide senior secondary students with opportunities to explore the realities of the workplace, cultivate common skills and values required for careers, and equip them to adapt to future work environments. We have a "Leap Forward Program" as an extension of the senior secondary curriculum, which includes work experience, independent lunch, music and art development, and other activities aimed at developing practical skills in a real-life context.

Our school places great importance on students' character development and strives to cultivate the practice of "awareness, righteousness, and proper conduct" as well as a positive attitude. We continue to promote positive education through PERMA+ (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment), fostering positive elements in students such as benevolence, courage, wisdom, and knowledge, empowering them to face challenges in life. We enhance students' awareness of various character strengths through campus environment arrangements, such as the Positive Success Corridor, and recognize students' good performance through the monthly "Moral Star" awards, encouraging them to maintain positive values and attitudes.

Our school offers diverse sports and arts training and interest classes, such as lion dance, dance, taekwondo, swimming, etc., allowing students to unleash their individual talents and interests and develop their physical fitness, expressive abilities, and teamwork skills. We encourage students to participate in various competitions and performances, such as the Special Olympics, dance competitions, inter-school music festivals, and recitation events, providing them with opportunities to showcase their talents and efforts, and enhancing their self-confidence and sense of achievement.

In terms of community engagement, our school has been participating in the Education Bureau's Special Schools and Resource Centers Program since 2003, serving as the only resource center in the North District. We provide services to primary and secondary school teachers, parents, and students with special learning needs in the area, including group activities, lectures, workshops, and individual case support. We also offer a "Short-term Temporary Education Program" for intellectually disabled students who have significant difficulties adapting to mainstream schools, providing them with a more suitable learning environment. Our school conducts regular professional assessments for students to identify those who have the potential to return to mainstream schools, and we arrange referrals for them while providing academic and emotional support to achieve mutual inclusion.