AI for Empowering Learning and Teaching Funding Programme
The Hong Kong Education Bureau's HK$500,000 funding programme is accelerating AI development in education. Discover how Zense AI's comprehensive solution helps schools leverage this opportunity.
What is ELTFP?
Learn about the Empowering Learning and Teaching Funding Programme
Funding Amount
HK$500,000
One-time grant per school
AI for All Subjects
Implement AI solutions across all subjects and disciplines to enhance teaching and learning effectiveness
For All Schools
Available for both primary and secondary schools
(i) Purchase / Subscribe / Rent AI Devices/Services
To enhance students' AI literacy and skills, and promote teaching and learning effectiveness:
- Software: e.g., AI drawing software, AI writing tools, etc.
- Hardware: e.g., tablets, computers, LLM deployment devices, etc.
- Platforms: e.g., QEF e-Learning Support Programme AI-enabled learning platforms or platforms developed by other institutions/programmes
- Teaching and Learning Resources: Purchase or develop AI teaching materials
- School-based AI Solutions: Hire external agencies or design and implement in-house language models
(ii) Fund Student Activities
Support students to participate in school-organized or approved activities that enhance AI literacy and skills (on-campus or off-campus)
- AI seminars and workshops
- AI competitions
- Hands-on AI training sessions
Inappropriate Use of Funding
- Purchasing resources unrelated to teaching and learning
- Renovation works
- Funding teachers or parents to attend AI-related courses/seminars/workshops
- Hospitality or ceremonial expenses
- Promotional activities (e.g., sharing sessions)
- Food and beverage expenses
- Activities inconsistent with learning objectives, curriculum goals, or students' developmental stages
- Activities not compliant with EDB circulars, instructions, and guidelines
Funding Programme Requirements
Commitments schools must fulfill during the programme period
We understand these requirements are complex and may not be easy to fulfill as a teacher. Some schools may hesitate to apply for this funding programme. Zense AI will tailor-make the best plan for your school and guide you through the entire programme.
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- 1
Include the 'Developing AI-Empowered Education' project in the School Development Plan and/or Annual Plan
- 2
Implement AI-assisted teaching in at least 3 subjects/curriculum areas
- Each subject/curriculum area must involve at least 2 grade levels
- Develop at least 6 AI teaching examples or resources in total
- 3
Conduct at least 3 open lessons or demonstration classes using AI-assisted teaching across at least 3 subjects/curriculum areas (on-campus or off-campus)
- 4
Organize at least 3 experience-sharing sessions on AI-assisted teaching (on-campus or off-campus)
- 5
Organize or arrange for students to participate in at least 2 student activities focused on enhancing AI literacy and skills
- 6
Properly maintain records of all income and expenditure items
- Submit audited annual accounts to the Education Bureau as required
- Complete and submit the 'Interim Report' and 'Final Report' as specified
Zense AI Solution
Zense AI provides the main services below. Choose 1-3 services you want to apply, and we will propose a comprehensive implementation plan for your school including scale assessment, hardware procurement, training programs, and ongoing support.
Zense AI for Schools
Deploy our comprehensive AI education platform across your entire school. Includes full system integration, teacher training workshops, student onboarding, and continuous technical support to ensure successful AI adoption.
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STEAM Course
Tailor-made AI and STEAM courses for your students featuring the latest technology. Developed in exclusive partnership with StarFive, incorporating cutting-edge hardware and hands-on learning experiences.
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Local Host LLM
Deploy your own private large language model on-premise. We'll setup local infrastructure scaled to your school size, with optional integration into the Zense AI platform for enhanced capabilities and full data sovereignty.
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Smart Creation Future Courses
Image Recognition and Face Recognition
- Trial image classification, object detection, and face recognition models
- Discuss applications and information literacy (privacy, bias)
Sound and Speech AI
- Trial speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and keyword detection
- Create a simple voice assistant demo
Deploy Local LLM
- Deploy a simplified local LLM on VisionFive 2 Lite, perform simple conversations and commands
- Compare privacy and performance trade-offs between cloud vs local LLMs
Self-Learning with Common Generative AI Tools
- Introduce text, image, and video generation tools
- Teach effective prompt writing techniques
- Arrange self-study tasks: choose one tool to complete a small project
Why Choose Us for 『「智」啟學教』Support Programme?
- 01
Proven Experience in Similar Funding Programmes
We have successfully implemented AI education solutions in major schools and completed similar projects through the 'AI for Science Education' (智為學理) funding programme, giving us unique insights into government funding requirements and deliverables.
Prof. Cecilia K. Y. Chan - 02
Full-Cycle Support from Planning to Implementation
Our dedicated team guides you through every stage—from initial application and planning, to procurement and setup, through to final reporting and evaluation. We ensure compliance with all programme requirements while maximizing educational impact.
- 03
Maximum Value from Your HK$500,000 Grant
Our experience with government funding programmes enables us to design cost-efficient solutions that strategically allocate your grant across hardware, software, training, and student activities to achieve the greatest impact for your school.
- 04
In-House Platform Built for Long-Term Growth
Unlike third-party solutions, our proprietary Zense AI platform is specifically designed for Hong Kong schools. It scales with your needs, supports all subjects, and continues to evolve with your school's AI education journey beyond the funding period.
Programme Timeline
By 28 February 2026
Submit Application
Schools intending to join the Programme should complete the attached application form and undertaking (Annex 1), and submit them to the Information Technology in Education Section of the Education Bureau by mail or fax.
By 31 March 2026
Application Results
The Education Bureau notifies schools of application results.
By 30 June 2026
Funding Disbursement
Successful applicant schools receive funding. Specific funding arrangements will be notified separately.
- 4
By 30 September 2027
Submit Interim Report
Schools must complete the 'AI-Empowered Learning and Teaching Support Programme: Funding Usage Status - Interim Report' (Annex 3).
- 5
By 30 September 2028
Submit Final Report
Schools must complete the 'AI-Empowered Learning and Teaching Support Programme: Funding Usage Status - Final Report' (Annex 4).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the AI-Empowered Learning and Teaching Support Programme and Zense AI
The AI for Empowering Learning and Teaching Funding Programme (AI for ELTFP) aims for "AI for ALL subjects", with teachers in every subject using AI in teaching.
Announced by the Education Bureau in circular memorandum 221/2025 on 16 December 2025, it gives each successful publicly-funded school a one-off HK$500,000 from the Quality Education Fund, to spend by 31 August 2028.
Schools can use the HK$500,000 AI for ELTFP grant to buy, subscribe to or lease AI software, hardware such as AI robot kits and AI computers, platforms, teaching resources and school-based AI solutions, and to subsidise students' AI literacy activities (EDB circular memorandum 221/2025).
Improper uses include renovations, banquets, food, publicity and AI courses for teachers or parents.
Funds should not go to a single item or a few students.
All publicly-funded Hong Kong schools could apply: government, aided (including special schools), caput and Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools.
Applications closed on 28 February 2026, results were normally sent by 31 March 2026, and the HK$500,000 was normally paid by 30 June 2026.
Funds can be spent until 31 August 2028, with an Interim Report due 30 September 2027 and a Final Report due 30 September 2028.
Schools receiving the HK$500,000 AI for ELTFP grant must add "Development of AI-empowered Education" to the School Development Plan or Annual School Plan.
They use AI-assisted teaching in at least 3 subjects, each across at least 2 levels, with at least 6 AI teaching examples or resource sets.
They also hold at least 3 open classes across at least 3 subjects, at least 3 experience-sharing sessions and at least 2 student AI literacy activities.
If a school misses these or the reports, the Education Bureau may ask for all funds back.
Zense AI supports AI for ELTFP schools from planning to the Final Report.
The team plans the grant budget within Education Bureau guidelines, provides a teaching platform for all subjects to meet the 3-subject commitment, runs STEAM courses and student AI activities, and trains teachers face to face with ongoing support.
It also helps prepare the Interim Report (due 30 September 2027) and Final Report (due 30 September 2028).
No, one AI language model rarely fits every subject, because models differ in cost, speed, reasoning, Chinese writing and stability.
Zense AI Chat includes GPT from OpenAI, Claude from Anthropic, Gemini from Google, DeepSeek and Qwen, with Auto mode or a teacher's own choice of model.
One platform keeps accounts, safety settings and credits in one place, and fits EDB guidance not to spend the AI for ELTFP grant on a single item.
The choice between cloud, on-premises and hybrid AI depends on a school's network, security needs and budget.
Cloud AI, such as the Zense AI platform, gets new models and features quickly but has ongoing subscription costs.
On-premises AI (a local host LLM) keeps data on campus, works when internet is unreliable and has predictable costs after the hardware purchase.
A hybrid uses both, and Zense AI can set up all three.
The most direct way to improve AI feedback is to ground the AI in trusted materials.
Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) lets it look up curriculum guidelines, approved textbooks and a teacher's notes before answering, instead of guessing.
Choose models by task and subject; Zense AI includes GPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek and Qwen.
Keep teachers in the loop with clear marking criteria: in Zense AI Assignments, the teacher reviews AI's first round of marking.
A long-term AI strategy should outlast the AI for ELTFP funding period, which ends on 31 August 2028.
Prefer options a school can sustain, such as open-source models on school servers or vendors with clear long-term support, and keep budgets flexible as models, prices and policies change.
Build the plan into the School Development Plan and align it with EDB's Steering Committee on Strategic Development of Digital Education, formed in January 2025.
Whole-school AI teaching scales through teacher champions: a small group from different subjects who try AI first and coach colleagues.
Turn early lessons into reusable examples, since AI for ELTFP requires at least 6 across at least 3 subjects, and share them in the required open classes and experience-sharing sessions.
The grant cannot fund teacher AI training, so use other sources; Zense AI school plans include face-to-face teacher training.
Spread the HK$500,000 AI for ELTFP grant across several needs: EDB circular memorandum 221/2025 says funds should not go to a single item, area or small number of students.
Budget for platforms, AI tools, teaching resources, hardware only where needed, the 2 required student AI activities, and school-based schemes of work and assessment tools.
Costly items need prior approval from the School Management Committee or Incorporated Management Committee, and aided schools follow EDB Circular No.
4/2013 on procurement.
Funded? Let's deliver it.
We help funded schools roll out the platform, courses and training, and prepare the interim and final reports.
