Source:
https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2043177/hong-kongs-education-bureau-warns-british-school
Hong Kong/ Education

Hong Kong’s Education Bureau warns British school over recruiting students too early

Mount Kelly International School yet to complete registration application as it prepares to hold groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday

Site of Mount Kelly International School at So Kwun Wat Road in Tuen Mun. Photo: Edmond So

The Education Bureau has warned a British boarding school, which plans to open a campus in Hong Kong, to complete its application process before recruiting students.

On its website, the Mount Kelly International School, which targets boys and girls aged 5 to 14, claims it will open its doors in September next year in So Kwun Wat, Tuen Mun. The school has reportedly continued to recruit students, despite the bureau confirming it has not yet received a valid application for registration from the school.

The school withdrew its first application on July 25 this year.

A spokesperson for the school said a warning letter had been received on Friday evening, but declined to comment further until a groundbreaking ceremony, which is expected to be held at the proposed site on Saturday at noon.

Representatives from the school, the British consulate and local officials are expected to attend the ceremony.

The bureau said the school had been warned that “it should not make any statement that could mislead the public or parents before getting registered according to the Education Ordinance”.

The ordinance does not restrict any school, which has submitted its registration application, from recruiting students.

Local media reported yesterday that the school had already begun recruiting students.

The school’s website also clearly states the application procedures, which include a HK$1,500 application fee for the first interview and another HK$1.92 million for an Individual Nomination Certificate, and provides access to the application form.

A “Meet the Head Master” session has also been arranged for November 19 for interested parents and students.

Education lawmaker Ip Kin-yuen said he was concerned about the issue and had requested the bureau to follow it up.

“If the school has already started to recruit students and selling nomination certificates before submitting a registration application, both parents and students have to face a huge risk,” Ip said.