Mainland syllabus gets private debut

Hong Kong will have its first private school offering the mainland curriculum in Tin Shui Wai for children of mainland families working and living in the SAR.

The Education Bureau yesterday started inviting expressions of interest for the establishment of the non-profit private school, which would offer a 12-year primary and secondary program to no less than 900 students.

A spokesman for the bureau said the mainland has become Hong Kong's greatest source of direct external investment in recent years but none of the 50 international schools in Hong Kong provide the mainland curriculum.

"Notwithstanding our close ties with the mainland, there is still no school offering the mainland curriculum in Hong Kong. It is difficult for these children of mainland families who have studied in Hong Kong for a few years to reintegrate into the mainland education system when they choose to continue their studies there," the spokesman said.

"Given the development of the Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong's efforts to promote the exchange of talent with the mainland, the demand for mainland curriculums in Hong Kong is also expected to rise," he added.

The school will be located in an 8,608-square-meter plot in Tin Shui Wai adjacent to the Hong Kong Wetland Park. Depending on the progress of construction, the school is expected to commence operation in the 2025/26 school year.

The successful school operator will have to build vehicular access at Wetland Park Road and may have to modify highway facilities.

Interested school operators are asked to submit detailed proposals to the bureau.

The bureau will consider whether the potential school operator has a good organizational structure, proper management mechanisms and sound financial footing, as well as the quality of its proposal.

The successful applicant will normally enjoy a nominal premium for the grant of the site. The government may consider offering an interest-free capital loan for the school building, subject to approval from the Legislative Council.

The chairman of Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, Wong Kwan-yu, said it is reasonable to have a private school offering the mainland curriculum for children whose parents are working in mainland offices in Hong Kong.

"I am aware of the demand for such a school, but I don't know how large it is," Wong said.

He also said that unlike the past when people used Hong Kong as a stepping stone to continuing their study overseas, students may wish to return to the mainland now.