Institute prepares to open $257m campus
The Canadian International School (CIS) has plans to raise its profile within the SAR's Canadian community as the institute prepares to open its new $257 million campus in December.
Principal Neil Johnston said the Aberdeen campus would incorporate the school's three existing campuses in one location and provide a long- term facility to promote Canadian education in the SAR.
He hoped the campus, which would eventually include 49 classrooms, two gymnasiums, a 25-metre swimming pool, two science laboratories and music and meeting rooms, would become a meeting place for Hong Kong's estimated 500,000 Canadian passport holders.
The Nam Long Shan Road campus was originally due to open this summer but heavy rain delayed the foundation work, increasing costs by about $10 million.
Mr Johnston said the campus would increase the school's capacity to 1,250 students from 625. About 725 were expected to be enrolled by September.
He said the school would begin to offer grade 12 and Ontario Academic Credit classes (OAC - university preparatory classes) in the new school year.
It would also increase its grade seven classes from two to three and its grade 10 to two classes.
The school has been increasing its curriculum by one grade each year since opening in 1991.
'Grade 12 and the OAC will be small classes in the first few years, but we have an obligation to those students,' Mr Johnston said.
'They have been here for many years and they need to complete their secondary school with us. We must give them the courses they need to get into university.' The December opening is for the first phase of the school, while the second phase will have to be completed for the pool and the secondary gymnasium. A third phase could also be opened if needed.
'If we had the money to build phase two right away, then I would go ahead,' he said.
The CIS received a $90 million donation from the Hong Kong Jockey Club and raised $66 million to pay for building fees. It has also received a loan from the SAR Government and another donation from the Canadian Consulate.
