On 4 December 2025, a meeting between representatives from the Faculty of Education (FED) of the University of Macau (UM) and the Macau Association for the Promotion of Education Research was held in E33-1003 of FED. The delegation from the Macau Association for the Promotion of Education Research was led by Chan Ka LEONG, Founding President, Member of the Executive Council of the Macao Special Administrative Region (Macao SAR), and Vice Principal of Macau Fong Chong School, including Kong Hong HUI, President and Vice Principal of Sha Lei Tau Fong Chong School; Teng Fong CHAN, Vice President of Supervisory Council, Office Director of Diocesan Catholic Education Commission, and Adjunct Assistant Professor of University of Saint Joseph; Hua BAI, Secretary-General and Director of Kindergarten Macau Fong Chong School; Ka Ian CHE, Director and Vice Principal of Instituto Salesiano; and In Hou LEI, Director and Vice Director of Macao Chamber of Commerce Qingzhou Secondary School.

Representatives from FED included Prof. Lianghuo FAN, Dean and Director of Centre for STEM and AI Education; Prof. Dongbo ZHANG, Associate Dean (Teaching and Curriculum Development) and Programme Coordinator of Doctor of Education; Prof. Keang-ieng VONG, Assistant Dean (School Engagements and External Relations); Prof. Xiufeng LIU, Director of Educational Testing and Assessment Research Centre; Prof. Nan ZHOU, Director of Centre for Educational Psychology and Early Childhood Education; Prof. Chun Seng KAM, Programme Coordinator of Master of Science in Data Science (Analytics in Teaching and Learning); and Prof. Mei-Jiun WU.

At the outset of the meeting, both parties completed the introduction of participating leaders and professors. Subsequently, they first reviewed the foundation and current status of cooperation between the Macau Association for the Promotion of Education Research and UM, and conducted in-depth discussions on core issues. All participating representatives pointed out that the decline in school-age population caused by low fertility rates has become a pressing challenge facing basic education in Macau, which not only restricts school development but also gives rise to related social issues. There is an urgent need for practical and operable response strategies rather than mere theoretical descriptions. The participating parties then introduced relevant government research findings and clarified a two-phase development goal: prioritizing stability in the short term, focusing on ensuring the survival of vulnerable primary and secondary schools, avoiding large-scale layoffs through resource inclination, and achieving the emergency relief goal; taking progress as the guiding principle in the long term to promote the comprehensive improvement and optimization of the education system.

Based on this, the participants put forward specific action recommendations: First, safeguard schools by expanding adult education to enrich the breadth of educational services and promoting the transformation of formal schools towards diversification. Second, support teachers in their transformation and upgrading by developing emerging courses such as artificial intelligence, health management, physical literacy, and language application to enhance teaching adaptability.

Finally, both parties conducted further discussions on education development plans and reached consensus. In the future, they will focus on promoting the characteristic development of Portuguese education and deepening the construction of community learning networks. Through multiple approaches—including educational resource reuse, external learning expansion, special education curriculum optimization, strengthening of family education guidance, and innovation in art and physical education—a three-dimensional education system adapting to the needs of Macao’s social development will be built.

Rooted in practical needs and pooling the wisdom of industry and academia, this meeting has provided a practical action framework for the sustainable development of basic education in Macau against the backdrop of low fertility rates, and laid a solid foundation for the further deepening of cooperation between the two parties.

Meeting in Progress

Thank you for your kind attention.

Faculty of Education