PARENTS receiving offers of places for their children at ESF schools have been surprised to be asked to pay a non-refundable deposit of $8,000 to reserve a primary school place and $13,000 for a secondary school place.
Most international schools ask for a non-refundable deposit within two to three weeks of offering a place. This varies from between one to two months' fees and is usually deducted from the first term's fees.
ESF schools brought in the system two years ago when pressure on school places became acute, particularly at primary level.
Most schools say the deposit must be paid within a few weeks of the offer being made. But parents say this means they end up accepting a place at the school which offers them a place first, rather than the one they feel is most suited to their child.
Schools say a deposit system was necessary as parents put children down for more than one school to make sure they had somewhere to go; this left empty spaces when parents then sent children elsewhere.
'You can imagine how upsetting it must have been for some parents coming into Hong Kong when they were told 'sorry, we're full,' ' said John Bohen, ESF financial controller. 'Then come September we would find some of these places were vacant after all.' Although the deposit is deemed non-refundable, ESF will repay it under certain circumstances, such as the family being relocated by their company.