- Thu
- Oct 3, 2013
- Updated: 2:21pm
English Schools Foundation
The English Schools Foundation (ESF) operates five secondary schools, nine primary schools and a school for students with special educational needs across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. It is the largest international educational foundation in Asia.
ESF fees could rise 20pc as subsidy phases out
Cost for new students likely to increase sharply from 2016 as the government's HK$284 million subsidy is phased out, internal document shows
Fees for new students entering the English Schools Foundation from 2016 could be more than 20 per cent higher as the government phases out its decades-old subsidy for the foundation, according to a document seen by the South China Morning Post.
But students now in ESF schools or who join before the cut-off date will enjoy a subsidised education for up to 13 years under the present structure, the internal ESF communication indicates.
The change is the result of drawn-out negotiations between the Education Bureau and the ESF, which officials have described as a "colonial legacy".
It is set to be given final approval by the ESF board and receive the green light from the Executive Council next month.
Based on fees announced recently, a 20 per cent rise would mean the cost for primary students would be as much as HK$84,000 a year compared to HK$70,000 for the coming year.
The increase is not firm and the exact amounts would depend on final adjustments.
But the news comes at a time of mounting concern about a shortage of international school places and the ability of families to afford them.
ESF chief executive Heather Du Quesnay wrote in an e-mailed reply to a Post query: "We are in discussion with the Education Bureau, as we have been for several months.
"There is a long process which has to take place before any final decision is reached. We cannot make any further comment at this time."
A bureau spokeswoman said it aimed "to report the progress of the review to the Legislative Council panel on education within this legislative session", which ends in July.
The English-language educational foundation was set up in 1967 to run schools for non-Chinese learners, but the government has said it should eventually become a private international school system.
It receives HK$284 million a year in government subsidies.
There has been wide debate about the subsidy's future, with some saying it is an ineffective way of spending public money.
Others contend there is a need to maintain English education because it remains an official language despite the handover.
In March, the foundation announced a 5.9 per cent increase for the next academic year for primary students. Their fees are currently HK$66,100.
The rise for secondary learners will be 3.47 per cent, taking the cost from HK$98,000 to HK$101,400. In Forms 12 and 13, fees will rise by 4.22 per cent, from HK$102,000 to HK$106,300.
It has been estimated that by 2016, the city will be short of 4,200 international school places.
The internal note also said the redevelopment of Island School, which ESF management had said would cost HK$1 billion, would receive HK$270 million of public money based on the criteria also used for building local public schools.
The redevelopment is understood to be part of a deal struck between ESF and bureau officials last week.
The proposal will be put to the ESF board on May 21, when members will be asked to approve it first in principle.
The plans will be made available to parents next month when the board and the Executive Council will consider approval.
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6:37pm
English is a LANGUAGE and the world business language at that, not a relic of colonialism. It seems, however, that a coterie of petty minded bigots posing as patriots still dominate the thinking in Government and Legco's education sub committee. The real victims are the children and parents, over 70% of whom are NOT expatriates, they are HK permanent residents and therefore should not be characterised as "expats" or "foreigners". What ethnic Chinese and officials really mean by "expat" and "foreigners" is those people who are not ethnically Chinese. Racism is the reason for the freeze and phasing out of the subvention, pure and simple. The ESF should take the Government to court for a declaration that it is in breach of the Race Discrimination Ordinance, after all, what does it have to lose?
7:49pm
The only parents and children who now feel victimised here are the ones that want to live in Hong Kong but on special non-HK terms. If they are such regular HK permanent residents, then why not study the HK curriculum too?
Let me also note that 44% of ESF students are ethnically Chinese, with another 13% Indian and another 12% Eurasian. Merely 21% are caucasian. So how is this an act of racism while the largest ethnic group is Chinese?
Then, while 70% of pupils may be HK PR's (any child born here is), let's not forget that these are largely expatriates in the sense that they are foreign nationals: 27% UK, 10% Canadian, 9% Australian, 8% US (total >50% already). Only 9% are HK nationals. All fine too, but let's not pretend the ESF student body is a representation of HK society, or provides much services to 'local' non-foreign passport PR's.
There are plenty of great DSS schools offering EMI education, for HKDSE and IB diplomas, that do play by the EDB rules, which are btw extremely flexible. The ESF could have done this too, but chose not to. A great shame.
9:29pm
"Only 9% of ESF students are HK citizens" according to jve. Really? Where did you get that figure from?
9:45pm
You're welcome.
10:39pm
What is your definition of a "Hong Kong national"?
8:03am
6:55pm
10:07am
Might some of the listed non-HK passport holders hold a HK-passport in addition to their foreign nationality? Perhaps, but that is speculation and besides the point. They apparently do not regard this as their primary nationality, as they applied to the ESF schools as foreign nationals.
Hence, my point remains: the ESF is a school largely frequented by foreign nationals, who we can very well term (long or short term) expats. And no, there is nothing wrong with that, they of course have every right to choose a suitable education (for their kids) too. But the bottom line is still that they choose not to frequent an EMI DSS school teaching local or IB exam curriculum, and instead prefer to choose a school that teaches UK or IB curriculum. All fine, but I don't think that choice should necessarily be subsidised by the government. Just like I don't think the International Schools teaching French/American/whatever exam curriculum should be subsidised, especially not if these schools also are not willing to submit themselves to the government's quality control and assessment mechanisms that attempt to ensure taxpayer money is spent responsibly. In short: cheques with balances.
I am growing very tired of the ESF false (self-)image as the innocent victim selflessly servicing the 'local' community for the greater good against the evil and racist government.
3:59pm
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