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Elite school in Stanley gets flak over HK$1m priority admission scheme

Primary school in Stanley is accused of elitism by asking parents to buy into scheme under which children skip part of interview process

St Stephen's College Preparatory School in Stanley became the first of the 32 local private schools to introduce such a scheme two weeks ago.

Buying a debenture did not guarantee a child a place, a school spokesman said, though they would only need one interview, rather than the usual three.

Educators and legislators feared debentures could be used as an enrolment criterion and that the programme might make the school more elitist.

Maria Lam Woon-sum, principal of Ying Wa Primary School, said although each school had its own policy considerations, money should not be used to buy priority enrolment.

"No one will criticise a school for raising funds to build new buildings, but money really should not be a criterion for admission," she said.

St Stephen's is affiliated with the nearby St Stephen's College. Last year, almost 80 per cent of graduates entered the elite secondary school, which, under the Direct Subsidy Scheme, receives part of its funds from the government while enjoying greater freedom in its curriculum.

More than 1,000 children on average compete for about 100 Primary One seats every year. In that light, the debenture scheme has reportedly attracted an overwhelming number of parents since its launch.

Under the scheme, parents buy a 12-year, non-transferable note issued by the St Stephen's Foundation - a charity set up by the college to support it and its subsidiary primary schools - for HK$1 million. They can redeem the debenture at face value if their children are not offered a place or when the debenture matures after 12 years. They will not receive any interest.

The foundation's spokesman said children normally went through three interviews during the admission process, but those nominated via the debentures would need just one interview.

He said the number of debentures was limited and the scheme had been oversubscribed. A lottery would decide which applicants were successful.

Debentures would pay for a four-storey building at the primary school and a fourth Primary One class, the spokesman said. Future revenue would go into the school's operation fund, he said.

An elite direct-subsidy school, St Paul's Co-educational College, said such a scheme would go against its philosophy. Most international schools offer debentures, while their introduction at the English Schools Foundation in 2012 sparked fury.

Civic Party legislator Dr Kenneth Chan Ka-lok said some sought-after schools had turned education into a commodity. The scheme was unfair to children whose parents did not join and would lead to elitism, a situation he called "very demoralising".

The Education Bureau said local private schools were self-financing and market-driven. If these schools had to raise funds, operators must gain agreement from stakeholders first.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: School's HK$1m debenture draws fire
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