About 68 pc of kindergartens apply for tuition fee increase

The Education Bureau announced on Friday that 660 kindergartens have applied to increase tuition fees for the new school year, accounting for about 68% of the total and seeing a 6 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

The population of school-age children continues to decrease, posing significant challenges for the kindergarten industry. 

The Education Bureau stated today that as of the middle of this month, 660 kindergartens have submitted applications to increase tuition fees, 40 more than the same period last year. 

Of the approximate 740 kindergartens participating in the Kindergarten Education Scheme, approximately 520 have applied to increase their tuition fees. 

Some school sponsoring groups stated that only individual kindergartens have applied for slight adjustments in tuition fees based on operating costs, with an average increase of 1.5 to 2.4%.

At the same time, approximately 220 remaining kindergartens in the scheme have informed the Education Bureau that their tuition fees for the next school year will remain unchanged. 

As for kindergartens that have not participated in the Kindergarten Education Scheme, about 140 have applied for a tuition increase, one has applied for a decrease, and about 90 have remained unchanged.

The Education Bureau is reviewing relevant applications and will notify schools as soon as possible to approve the tuition fees. 

As for schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme, they have received 54 applications for tuition fee adjustments and 25 notices to remain the same. 

The bureau stated that they will diligently process all relevant applications per established procedures and hopes to complete the approval process before the start of the new school year, and the schools will be promptly notified of the appropriate results.