52 mainlanders get to take DSE exam as private candidates

Marcus Lum

Applications by 52 mainland students to take the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education exam next year as private candidates have been approved, following a judicial review filed by their school against the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority.

The Shenzhen International Course Center announced on Tuesday it had received confirmation of the approval, while processing of applications by another 10 is still under way.

"The authority informed us that of the 62 students registered for the 2025 HKDSE exam, four have already passed the initial review and an additional 48 have been approved," the center said.

The center also said that supplementary materials for applications by the remaining 10 have been submitted as required and expressed optimism the HKEAA will process these quickly, aiming to complete its review by the end of November.

In a statement, the center indicated it will engage with authorities to ensure that all 62 students pass the qualification review as soon as possible.

On October 19, the center stated that it had promptly submitted the necessary school operating permits for a UK high school qualification as well as documentation from the Shenzhen education administrative department. Initially, the HKEAA approved the registration application for four students after reviewing these materials. The center criticized the authority for requiring an additional permit to operate a school, arguing that there had been no changes to the school's operating entity or related courses under the current rules for private candidates.

Consequently, it filed an application for a judicial review on November 7 to challenge the rejection as part of its advocacy of the students' rights.

In September, the HKEAA had requested the center provide a school operating permit from a provincial or municipal education administrative department or an equivalent educational qualification certificate.

At that time, the authority said the center had not submitted the necessary documents, resulting in only eight students being allowed to register.

The center began offering HKDSE courses in 2022. In 2023, 27 students registered as private candidates for the 2024 DSE with approval from the HKEAA.

Of these, nine pursued further studies in Hong Kong while 16 continued their education in the mainland or overseas.

Some of the students are permanent residents, while others have two-way permits.