Orientation ends but school no closer to license

Nord Anglia International School held its last day of orientation at its currently unlicensed campus in Kwun Tong yesterday while waiting for the Education Bureau's green light to use the site for schooling.

The school began its three-day orientation for year 7 to 13 students on Monday. Over 20 secondary students were spotted leaving the campus wearing school attire for different houses.

A parent who wished to stay anonymous said teachers have told students the orientation activities do not involve lessons.

School principal Kenny Duncan said on Tuesday that as the license has yet to be approved by the bureau, no curriculum will be taught during the orientation days.

"Since opening our first campus in Hong Kong, we have always enjoyed a close working relationship with the Education Bureau and the activities this week at our Kwun Tong campus were an induction and were approved by the [the bureau]," he said yesterday.

Duncan added that the school respects and understands that the licensing process takes time, as the bureau needs to evaluate every school thoroughly.

"We are confident that we will receive the license very soon and look forward to opening our Kwun Tong campus for face-to-face learning," Duncan said.

The bureau did not directly respond to questions regarding whether the school had violated any regulations for running activities on the campus.

However, a spokesman said the Education Ordinance stated that no school shall operate on any premises other than those specified in the certificate of registration or the provisional registration.

"If anyone violates the above regulation of the Education Ordinance, the bureau will take appropriate action, such as issuing warning letters or instituting prosecution." the spokesman said.

The spokesman added that the school's statement that said the student activities had been approved by the bureau was "not factual."

Duncan has said the license the school is applying for involves an extension of its current license for its Lam Tin campus.

Parents were told students are expected to learn through online classes but it remains unclear when the classes will start.