ESF proposes 4.8pc tuition hike for 2025/26

The English Schools Foundation (ESF) seeks to increase tuition by an average of 4.8 percent for primary and secondary schools next year, awaiting government approval.

The tuition proposal for the 2025/26 academic year would see parents fork out HK$650 to HK$750 more each month, based on which grade their children are in.

Primary students in year 1 to 6 would see the annual tuition rising from HK$132,500 to HK$139,000, the largest increase across all grades.

Noting year 10 will become non-subvented next year, ESF said the annual tuition for year 7 to 10 would increase from HK$173,900 to HK$181,100. 

Year 11 will see tuition fees climb from HK$152,200 to HK$159,400, and year 12 to 13 from $HK160,100 to HK$167,600.

ESF also plans to raise fees for its five kindergartens, with the monthly increases ranging from HK$600 to HK$1,080.

Discovery College, a private independent school operated by the group, will see parents pay $HK900 to HK$1,190 more per month for primary and secondary sections.

The proposed fees were endorsed by the ESF Board on Monday evening, according to a letter to parents from the international school group’s chief executive, Belinda Greer.

The letter reiterated that the school group aims to maintain a tuition level that remains “amongst the lowest of any international school or group” in Hong Kong.

Greer said the board seeks to strike a balance between putting resources in recruiting and retaining top teachers and staff while setting reasonable fees for parents.

“I know that the Hong Kong economy, like that of the world more generally, continues to face uncertainties. I want to assure you that our commitment to a prudent ‘best value’ financial model remains resolute,” Greer added.

She was also confident that investing in quality educators will reap significant rewards for ESF students, “even with the advances of technology, the proliferation of AI and the many uncertainties about future jobs.”

In a reply to an inquiry from The Standard, an Education Bureau spokesperson said the bureau has not yet received the fee revision application for the 2025/26 school year from ESF.

The spokesperson stressed that the bureau “will critically consider justifications provided by schools according to the established policy upon receipt of their applications.”

(Jamie Liu)