Without school places, we lose out
English, the global language of business, should be well catered for in Hong Kong. Our city is an international financial centre and, to retain its competitive edge, has to attract skilled people from overseas. They will not come here unless their families' needs are catered for, and education in their everyday language is obviously a significant consideration. Surveys and anecdotal evidence suggest that due to a lack of suitable school places, we are losing out to regional rivals.
The government does not seem worried. It says there are vacancies at international schools and measures already taken will soon create another 5,000 places, 600 of them when school resumes in September. But the positive tone is at odds with signals from the business community, which has for some time been warning of a shortfall and its consequences. Surveys by the British and Canadian chambers of commerce back the claims, painting the bleakest of pictures.
In the Canadian chamber's study, 57 per cent of the 114 members interviewed believed that the perceived shortage of international school places was detrimentally affecting companies. Three-quarters of those who took part in the British survey felt that their businesses would be affected if demand was not met. Government assurances or not, the chambers, with the support of their US counterpart, feel the problem is severe enough that a campaign to push for more international school places is necessary. Their effort has been given urgency by authorities questioning whether the government should continue to subsidise the English Schools Foundation.
The ESF and many international schools have long waiting lists. Set up with expatriate communities in mind, their demographics are changing as the expectations of local parents for a more rounded education rise; at many, the majority of pupils are Chinese and their numbers are rising. The pressure for places is especially severe at ESF schools, whose fees are among the lowest because of the subsidy. It is not hard to see why companies' potential recruits may give Hong Kong a miss if they cannot find school places for their children.
Our government has been slow to respond. It took little interest in the problem until four years ago, largely due to its focus on wide-ranging reform of the local education system. Surplus buildings have since been given to four international schools so that they can expand, Greenfield sites have been allocated to four others to build new campuses and temporary places have been handed to nine others. It is not clear whether this will meet expatriate and local demand.
There has to be better planning. If Hong Kong is to attract the best foreign talent, our city has to be ready to accommodate needs and expectations. Unless the government works more closely with our quality English-language schools, we will lose out to rivals.
