Secretary for Education Christine Choi on Saturday urged primary schools with falling enrolment numbers to plan ahead – advising them to consider merging with other schools or ceasing operations.

According to this year’s Primary School Profiles, which cover more than 500 campuses, more than 120 aided and government primary schools have had to trim back the number of primary one classes, with around 60 running just a single class.

Speaking on a Commercial Radio programme, Choi noted that school-sponsoring bodies should decide as soon as possible to give parents and students time to prepare.

She said the declining student population is a structural trend that will not be reversed over the next five to 10 years.

“About eight to 10 years ago, everyone worked very hard to maintain the status quo. This included, among other measures, reducing class sizes, lowering the enrolment threshold and increasing the number of teachers to maintain the number of schools,” Choi said.

“But now, we realise the measures that we can take have been exhausted. We have made every adjustment possible. If we continue down this path, it will actually hurt the healthy development of Hong Kong's school ecosystem."

Choi encouraged schools to operate on a larger scale, noting that this gives students a richer learning experience and school life.

She urged schools not to wait until falling enrolment numbers reach a stage that leaves them with no choice but a merger.

Choi said the bureau is giving schools that choose to merge a one-off HK$1 million grant, leaving them with the resources and flexibility to keep surplus teachers and make curriculum adjustments during the transition period.



Edited by Robert Kemp