The English Schools Foundation (ESF) has angered parents by introducing a fast-track system for its private school in Discovery Bay, in which parents can get priority on the waiting list by agreeing to pay HK$400,000 if their child is accepted.
The ESF started the system for 'nomination rights' on Thursday and said it had been introduced for parents seeking to enrol children at Discovery College from the next academic year.
The ESF said yesterday that it had already received expressions of interest and applications for the scheme, under which parents who agree to pay HK$400,000 after a child's eventual enrolment will be guaranteed priority on the school's waiting list and a place subject to an interview.
The scheme has alarmed some parents, following a 6 per cent rise in fees and pressure on the loss-making Discovery College to balance its budget and pay off its HK$175 million debt to the ESF, saying the foundation was more concerned with making money than educating children.
'I have heard some rumours that whoever gets the nomination rights will be guaranteed a place, regardless of interviews,' said Ada Cheng of the Concerned ESF Parents Group.
But the ESF said that applicants under the nomination rights scheme would still have to undergo an interview.
According to the Discovery College website, applicants must pay a deposit of HK$10,000 when applying for the nomination right, with the remaining HK$390,000 to be settled when a child receives an offer of a place.