EDB Circular No. 221/2025

Understanding 『智』啟學教｜Planning for the Next Funding Cycle

Up to HK$500,000 per school · One platform for Learn → Teach → Assess → Research

「『智』啟學教」 is the Hong Kong EDB funding programme supporting subsidised primary and secondary schools in adopting AI platforms, hardware, and school-based training. This page helps principals and AI coordinators understand the programme structure, KPI requirements, and how Essai can support the next application cycle. Essai is an HK-local provider covering software, school-based customisation, and teacher development in a single solution.

We're nearing the end of the academic year. The next funding cycle is expected to open with the new school year in September. Now is the best time to plan and prepare your application.

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POLICY CONTEXT · 2026

Two funding tracks — one available today, one in preparation

The Primary and Secondary Digital Education Development Blueprint (《中小學數字教育發展藍圖》), published in 2026, sets the policy direction of "AI for all schools." The Quality Education Fund (QEF) has reserved dedicated resources to support implementation; specific application schemes will be announced progressively by EDB. Principals can start today with the 智啟學教 HK$500,000 grant and prepare a school-based AI roadmap to qualify for upcoming QEF schemes.

AVAILABLE TODAY

智啟學教 — HK$500,000 per school

EDB Circular 221/2025 · up to HK$500,000 per school

For publicly-funded primary and secondary schools. Covers AI teaching platform deployment, teacher training, and student AI literacy activities. Maps directly to Blueprint Focus Areas 1 (Cultivating Talent) and 2 (Teacher Capacity Building).

IN PREPARATION

QEF Blueprint Implementation Schemes

HK$2 billion reserved · school-applies, school-procures, school-pays

QEF grants are awarded to schools (not vendors). The school applies with a project proposal, procures from vendors under the approved project, and is reimbursed by QEF. Specific schemes pending EDB announcement. Principals can prepare a school-based AI roadmap now to be ready for future calls.

The two tracks are complementary: 智啟學教 is the launchpad; QEF is the scale-up and deepening phase. Essai maps to all four Blueprint focus areas and ten strategies — useful for designing a school-based AI roadmap that aligns with both tracks.

Official source: edb.gov.hk · 中小學數字教育發展藍圖

Full Blueprint reading: 4 focus areas, 10 strategies, 8-step school roadmap →

How Essai Covers All Three Funding Categories

The programme covers software, hardware, and school-based solutions. Essai can be deployed in any combination.

① Software & Platform

One platform for every teacher at the school — not just the language and maths panels.

  • ✓Core subjects: Chinese, English, Putonghua, Mathematics (essay grading, oral, reading, listening)
  • ✓Self-study content: Humanities, Science, ICT (primary + secondary)
  • ✓Cross-subject homework: any teacher (Music, PE, GS, Visual Arts) can assign a YouTube video — AI auto-generates and auto-marks comprehension MC questions
  • ✓Teacher dashboard + student self-study + progress tracking

② Hardware Deployment (Optional)

Local LLM deployment for schools with strict data privacy needs.

  • ✓Local LLM server (Mac Studio / Nvidia DGX)
  • ✓Data never leaves school premises — fully private cloud
  • ✓Can be mixed with Essai cloud deployment
  • ✓Installation and maintenance by Essai team

③ School-Based Solutions

Customised to each school's curriculum and assessment standards.

  • ✓Custom-trained rubrics matching school marking standards
  • ✓Aligned with TSA, HKAT, DSE and school-based assessments
  • ✓Teacher training and cross-school exchange activities
  • ✓Two AI literacy workshops for students
Subject-specific applications：Mathematics AIICT Self-StudyChinese Essay Marking
Further reading: 「智」啟學教 HK$500K — 12-Step Application Guide →

How Essai Meets EDB KPI Requirements

The programme requires schools to cover "3 subjects × 2 levels × 6 resource types." Essai delivers all of this in one package.

All-Subject Coverage
Core academic (Chinese, English, Putonghua, Maths) + Humanities, Science, ICT self-study + cross-subject homework via YouTube + AI-generated MC for every non-core teacher (Music, PE, GS, Visual Arts)
2 Level Bands
From lower primary through senior secondary
6 Resource Types
Lesson generation, auto-marking, oral conversation, reading & listening, maths problem-solving, oral assessment
Demo Lesson Plans
Complete lesson plans and post-lesson review materials
Teacher Development
Per-semester training plus cross-school exchange
Student Workshops
Two AI literacy workshops covering ethics, prompting, and hands-on building

Four Student AI Competencies

Aligned with the EDB AI literacy framework, Essai student workshops cover all four learner roles.

01
AI User
GenAI fundamentals and prompt engineering
02
AI Builder
Python basics, RAG hands-on workshops
03
AI Creator
Image, video, and audio generation tools
04
Critical Thinker
Deepfake detection, algorithmic bias, AI ethics

Why Schools Choose Essai

Data Owned by School
All student data stays in a private environment. ESSAi never uses school data for training. Full portability on request.
Hong Kong Local Team
HK-registered company with local engineering, training, and Cantonese-speaking support.
School-tested
From subsidised primary/secondary to DSS schools — real school-based data and success stories.
School-Based, Not Generic
Built to match your school's rubrics, question types, and assessment formats.
Renee Ho with Professor Wong Berlin and EDB Under Secretary Dr. Jeff Sze JP
Policy Dialogue

Direct Dialogue with Policy Makers

Essai co-founder Renee Ho recently joined Professor Wong Berlin and the HK Future Economy Institute (HKFEI) team to meet Dr. Jeff Sze, JP, Under Secretary for Education, for an in-depth dialogue on Hong Kong's AI education policy, the 智啟學教 (AI in Learning & Teaching) funding scheme, and school-level implementation pathways.

We believe school-based AI adoption requires ongoing dialogue with policy makers to genuinely match what schools need.

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Trusted by HK Schools

Schools using ESSAi to apply for AI funding

What HK school leaders say

「本校今年在三至六年級的中英文作文口語中引入 AI 平台批改，為學生提供即時而多層次的回饋，幫助他們掌握不足並逐步改善，培養自主學習。同時，AI 減輕了老師的基礎批改工作，讓我們能專注於引導學生進行高層次思維訓練與表達能力的提升，促進專業成長。 過程中，我們與公司保持緊密溝通，並按校本需要不斷調整，令平台更貼近前線需要。這次經驗讓我們看到 AI 在教學上的可能性：它不是取代老師，而是可靠的輔助工具。透過擁抱 AI，我們不僅提升效能，更擴闊了教育的視野，為學生的學習旅程增添更多可能。」
海怡寶血小學
周副校長
「一：網頁設計簡潔，電腦、平板及手提電話均方便使用。 二：內容多取材 TSA，可以作為試前練習，提升學生口語能力。」
中華基督教會蒙黃花沃紀念小學
普通話科主任 鮑老師
「續約了兩年，Essai 英文作文批改系統以其精準的字跡識別，個性化的語言修改配合全面的提升建議，成為了我校英語老師們在作文教學中的利器！」
上海市二中學
馮老師
「我們現在利用 Essai 讓學生多寫作文，尤其對 DSE 考生 — 老師以前來不及批改，所以不敢給太多作文練習，學生能看到成績進步。」
中學英文科主任
Ms To

「智」啟學教 — Frequently Asked Questions

The six questions principals, vice-principals, and IT coordinators ask most. For the full 12-step application walkthrough, see Renee's long-form guide.

What is 「智」啟學教?
「智」啟學教 (AI in Learning and Teaching) is the EDB's funding programme announced in Circular Memorandum No. 221/2025. It supports subsidised primary and secondary schools in deploying AI teaching platforms, teacher training, and student AI literacy activities.
How much funding is available?
Each approved publicly-funded school can receive up to HK$500,000, to be used across AI platform software, optional hardware deployment, and school-based training. Funding is calculated per school — multiple schools under the same sponsoring body may apply separately.
What is the application process?
A typical 12-step flow takes around 12 weeks: internal kick-off with principal / vice-principal / IT coordinator, identifying pilot subjects, assessing IT infrastructure, shortlisting AI platforms, vendor demos, proposals and quotations, drafting the application, designing KPI measurement, IMC approval, and submission to EDB. See Renee's 12-step guide for the full timeline.
What are the KPI requirements?
The programme requires schools to meet a "3 subjects × 2 semesters × 6 lessons" KPI coverage: the school selects 3 subjects, AI must be used across at least 2 semesters, and there must be at least 6 lessons per subject explicitly using AI — i.e. 3 × 2 × 6 = 36 AI lesson units in total.
How does Essai support 「智」啟學教?
Essai is an HK-local provider whose single platform covers software (core subjects + cross-subject AI homework), optional local-LLM hardware, school-based custom rubrics, teacher training, and student AI literacy workshops — meeting all three funding categories and the 3×2×6 KPI in one package. 100+ schools across Hong Kong and Mainland China have used Essai for their application.
How does 「智」啟學教 differ from QEF?
「智」啟學教 is the EDB's dedicated AI-teaching funding (up to HK$500,000 per school, focused on AI platforms, teacher development, and student AI literacy). QEF (Quality Education Fund) is a broader education grant where AI is not a core requirement. Schools may apply to both, provided the scopes do not overlap.
Step-by-step guide

「智」啟學教 HK$500K — 12-Step Application Guide

A practical guide to Circular Memorandum 221/2025: 3×2×6 KPI breakdown, 12-step timeline, and the 3 most-common pitfalls in proposal writing.

Read the full guide →

Prepare Early for the Next Funding Cycle

Even before the next window opens, it is not too early to plan. We can help you scope school-specific needs, draft the application framework, and prepare proposals and quotations. Book a free 30-minute on-site strategy session.

Essai is a product of TalentCoop (學而人才庫). Tenders, quotations and contracts are signed with TalentCoop.

Contact ESSAi to plan your next funding cycle

Fill in the form below — we will respond within 24-48 hours to help scope your school needs, application framework, and KPI design.

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