The Education Bureau has ruled out private classes as an alternative survival plan for a Wong Tai Sin primary school, saying the school will be barred from running primary one classes in the coming school year.

Po Yan Oblate Primary School is among several schools that will not receive grants to operate primary one classes, after enrolling just 15 pupils – one short of the minimum number required by the government.

After the Education Bureau rejected the school’s request for a special review of its operations last week, its alumni association subsequently tried to raise funds to run primary one classes privately.

However, officials on Tuesday also banned the school from doing so, saying that since it had earlier requested for a special review, it could not choose another option.

The bureau said it had explained clearly to the school sponsoring body after learning about the fundraising campaign, and expressed regret that it had failed to make the necessary inquiries about eligibility for other routes.

The school faces complete closure in several years' time.