Falling numbers take toll on kindy in North Point

Eunice Lam

St Paul's Church Kindergarten in North Point will shut down next year and combine with its Central campus.

The kindergarten, which had been operating for 11 years, has seen a sharp drop in the number of students amid the pandemic and migration wave, and also suffered from financial pressure.

"The school has been grappling with heavy rental pressure but the Education Bureau has failed to offer the school a full rental subsidy, which had resulted in huge operating deficits of the school sponsoring body," the kindergarten said in a notice circulating online.

"After serious consideration of many factors, we decided to merge St Paul's Church Kindergarten in North Point and in Central, with the former ceasing operations from September 1, 2024."

The kindergarten will arrange visits to the Central campus early next month for parents interested in the move.

According to bureau's profile of kindergartens website, the school is under the Kindergarten Education Scheme and has capacity for 457 students. It had 277 students as of last September.

The bureau confirmed on Saturday the closure and the merger.

"The Education Bureau has reminded the school to notify parents and other stakeholders about its relevant arrangements as quickly as it can," a spokesman said.

"The school should also keep close communication with other branches and provide appropriate advice and assistance."

It said parents could inquire about vacancies in other kindergartens by contacting the relevant district school development sections and its joint office for kindergartens and childcare centers.

The Central branch was first founded in 1950 in the Sheng Kung Hui St Paul's Church. The North Point branch was established in 2013.

Some parents took to social media to voice their concerns.

"This is a very good kindergarten that puts its heart into educating young kids," one wrote. "The teachers there are all good."

Nancy Lam Chui-ling, vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers and a kindergarten principal, suggested the kindergarten should provide a bus service to students after the merger.

"The migration wave has brought a tremendous hit to the schools. There are people gradually leaving Hong Kong, while the younger generation is less willing to give birth to babies," Lam said, adding she expected some 20 kindergartens to close in the next two years.