Eviction looms again for International Montessori School in Hong Kong
Parents and founders of Montessori primary criticise government for failing to allocate new site as lease on Tin Hau campus nears final year
An international school which failed to secure a government-granted site in the latest allocation exercise will face eviction next year.
And parents have expressed disappointment at the government’s decision to prioritise elite, newcomer schools over homegrown institutions.
The International Montessori School (IMS) was in danger of losing its Tin Hau campus last year, but obtained a new two-year lease after parents complained to education officials.
But the 13-year-old school’s lease is due to end in July next year and the landlord, the Hong Kong Construction Association, has made it clear it expects the 350-pupil school to move out.
The school has unsuccessfully applied for two government sites in Aberdeen and Tseung Kwan O. These sites, together with another three in Tseung Kwan O and Tai Po, belong to the Education Bureau’s latest site allocation exercise for international school development.
The bureau announced the allocation results on Friday, with three sites going to elite international school operators from Britain and Dubai. One home-grown international school, Harbour School, which also caters to children with special educational needs, got a site in Aberdeen.