Up to eight schools face threat of closure over next five years

Eunice Lam

Up to four primary and four secondary schools, including time-limited schools for cross-boundary students, may gradually shut down over the next five years amid a decline in student population, says Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin.

But she said authorities will not proactively close them down as she expressed hope that schools will not lure students from other schools as this could negatively impact planning and increase teachers' workload.

Choi, speaking on radio yesterday, said about 85 percent of primary schools have implemented small-class teaching - with each class having 25 pupils instead of the usual 30. An additional 32 schools are doing just that this year, with another nine following suit next year.

In the next five years she said eight schools could gradually cease operation, including some time-limited primary schools, which were founded amid the transient increase in cross-boundary primary one student population.

"If there are too many schools in the district, it will only worsen the competition, which in turn hinders schools' planning and brings more workload to teachers on competing students," she said.

Lawmaker and secondary school principal Tang Fei told The Standard the situation of closures has improved compared to previous waves in 2003 and 2009.

But he added despite more mainlanders bringing their children to study in Hong Kong under various talent visa schemes, an increase in transfer students had not helped to alleviate inadequate admission in some schools.

In September last year, the Education Bureau announced that schools that operate two or fewer primary one or secondary one classes for two consecutive years will not be allowed to operate three classes in the next school year -- which Tang called "a countdown" for affected schools.

"Even if those schools admit transfer students in senior years, as long as they cannot operate two or more primary one or secondary one classes, they are still at risk of being closed," he said.

Choi, meanwhile, found it "strange" that sex education teaching materials, which suggest students play badminton to manage sexual impulses, had sparked controversy.

She clarified that this was just one of many "reference suggestions" in the materials instead of being a policy, and the materials target junior secondary students aged between 12 and 14.

"If we don't teach students to protect themselves and pay respect to one another, this will bring value issues to our society in the future," she said.

Choi also shared her experience of coping with the loss of her eldest son, who fell from a building seven years ago. She said she wants to tell him "not to worry, mom is now doing great."

On the first day of the new school year today, Choi will visit a Tuen Mun secondary school and suggested organizing a flag-raising ceremony to mark the date, urging students to show respect for the national anthem.

The Transport Department reminded people to leave home early in anticipation of heavy traffic.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com