Education officials are hoping to teach migrant children, using empty classrooms in schools. They will also speed up feasibility studies on 100 plots of land suitable for building more schools. Ching Wai-hung, senior education officer (buildings), said 20 mini-schools would be built. Each was expected to take about 800 students. The first batch of five mini-schools - each 32,000 to 43,000 square feet - - would be completed by 2001. Schools are usually 64,000 square feet. 'We are thinking of building more storeys so they will have a similar number of classrooms despite the smaller site,' he said. Mr Ching said the department had another 80 plots of land in hand for schools. But he admitted not all the sites were in the right place - some were on outlying islands or in remote districts while others did not have good services. Assistant Director of Education Tam Chun-kit said officials would check with schools to see how many empty classrooms were available. He said it would take some time before new schools could be built so new migrants had to be sent to schools with vacancies. 'Extra money will be given to schools to open new classes. 'We have yet to find out how many extra classes will be opened. But it is not uncommon for schools, especially primary sections, to have empty classrooms. 'I am confident we can find sufficient places for the migrants,' Mr Tam said. About 15,000 mainland children were admitted to schools in the last academic year. Many of those living in Yau Tsim Mong and Wong Tai Sin had to travel to other districts for schooling.
