Options open for schools that did not pass primary one admission threshold

Authorities have provided options to schools that did not pass the primary one admission threshold, said Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin, as some primary schools do not have enough student intake in the new school year.

Speaking to reporters after attending a school opening assembly at Po Leung Kuk Ma Kam Ming Secondary School in Fan Ling, Choi said the drop in the number of primary one classes was due to a "structural decline" in the student population.

"Of course, I hope our students' learning quality will not be affected by the declining student population, and at the same time, I also hope the government fund is used properly," she said.

"We have adopted different ways to first, ensure our teaching quality, and secondly to utilize the government fund by merging and relocating schools to ease the problem."

Choi said Island Road Government Primary School in Aberdeen will close from next September, while the bureau has been relocating schools that face difficulties in recruitment to newly developed districts.

Adding authorities will accelerate the implementation of small-class teaching in all primary schools in Hong Kong.

According to the Committee on Home-School Cooperation's latest Primary School Profiles published on Friday, among 456 government and subsidized primary schools in Hong Kong, 15 percent, or 77 of them, have to open 88 fewer primary one classes compared to last year.

Forty-four schools could only open one P1 class this year, up from last year's 37 schools. Two North Point Government Primary Schools - one on Cloud View Road in Wan Chai and another near Quarry Bay MTR station - were ordered to merge starting next September.

There are another five schools that are denied permission to take in primary one pupils this school year because they were unable to recruit the minimum of 16 pupils.

Among the five schools, Li Wing-kai, principal of St Charles School in Kennedy Town was confident that the school would not be closed after the Education Bureau allowed the school to take in primary one students again in the next school year, adding it would enhance promotion by organizing open days and trial lessons.

Confucian Tai Shing Primary School in Wong Tai Sin has recruited 18 self-financing P1 students and plans to turn into a private school in three years.

Meanwhile, MinXin Hong Kong School in Nansha, Guangzhou, saw a positive response in recruitment and will enhance global recruitment in the coming year, the school's founder and former chief executive Leung Chun-ying said.

"We will start recruiting overseas and non-Chinese students in the coming year, as many Chinese families living abroad want to send their children to study at boarding schools in China," Leung said at the school's opening assembly yesterday.

MinXin Hong Kong is also applying to be an exam center for next year's DSE exam and will hold a kindergartens program from next September.

Local primary school principals said mainland schools had attracted Hong Kong students.

Chu Wai-lam, Fung Kai No 1 Primary School's principal said: "These mainland schools for Hong Kong students in Shenzhen have attracted some local students to study in the mainland.

"I think we should not open more of these schools so students can attend schools in Hong Kong."