Parents find no closure in tutorial reopening bid

The "reopening" of the Kornhill branch of shuttered Brilliant Education was just "a farce," parents claimed, saying they had already lost faith in the tutorial group and were only hoping for a refund.

The reopening happened on Saturday with students asked to attend classes in a nearby classroom under another brand.

But the Education Bureau said late Saturday it had not been notified by the school over the closure or reopening of any of its five branches.

It also warned any changes to the school's ownership would require its approval under the Education Ordinance.

Both the Kornhill branch and the new classroom were closed yesterday.

A message from a 50-year-old school director, Margaret Pang Tse-tung, posted in WhatsApp chat groups formed by victims on Saturday, announced the reopening.

A handful of tutors and children were seen returning to a classroom on the fifth floor of Kornhill Plaza run by Bright Youth Education Centre on Saturday.

A tutor, Lee, said: "I was notified on Friday. But the company only asked me to come back for classes. They said they are still discussing [the issue of backpay]."

Outside, a man, who identified himself only as Yan, spoke on behalf of Brilliant Education.

He said at least five parents had pledged HK$10,000 to HK$20,000 to help the tutorial school reopen, but he declined to say how much had been committed

Yan admitted the company had not been up to date with its salary and MPF payments but denied it had shut down.

"I have to emphasize it was not the board of directors that had decided to close the business. It was only someone who posted [a notice] saying we are closing, but this had brought serious consequences [to our business]," he said, adding that the Ho Man Tin and Chai Wan branches would reopen once some equipment was replaced.

The bureau has said the Ho Man Tin branch is registered under a different entity and that it is in close communication with law enforcement in investigating a suspected Education Ordinance breach.

In a chatgroup, one parent said: "if the new investors are not paying us back prepaid fees, it will be hard for us to trust the school again."

"I only want to get my money back," another said.

All five branches shut down on July 29, leaving more than 300 victims demanding refunds of over HK$2.5 million in fees.

Its director Pang was arrested on Tuesday over claims she accepted payment for prepaid tutorial programs - a breach of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance.