RISING fees are forcing up to 80 per cent of students to drop out of adult education classes, an education watchdog claims.
Mervyn Cheung Man-ping, secretary of Hong Kong Association for Continuing Education, said fees for 32 per cent of courses were expected to increase this year from $470 to $620.
'The cost of the courses has a direct impact on the number of students. I think the fee should be remain at $470,' he said.
He was concerned the Government might be planning to leave adult education to the private sector and close down the existing 10 adult education centres.
The Government will reduce the opening time of the centres to three nights a week and cancel classes from February, he said.
'The Government treated the 10 adult education centres very unreasonable and lacked accountability,' he said.
