Pupils desperate to get into Form Six will be able to pay for their places, if an Education Department proposal is adopted.
But the extra places would be created at the expense of schools with less impressive academic results, which may be asked to cut their places.
Tam Man-kwan, member of the Education Commission and a school principal, said the plan would worsen the gap between the top and the less-competitive schools.
'It will bring more competition for the top schools and the less-impressive ones will struggle to fill their places,' Mr Tam said. 'The gap between the so-called good and bad schools will grow.' He also doubted whether the Government could charge students full tuition fees of $45,000 a school year.
'The student population is dropping despite the inflow of young migrants,' he said.
'If there are vacant classrooms to accept more students, why should the places be self-financed?' Public-sector schools, including government schools and schools run by non-profit-making groups, are funded by the Government.
Students from Form One to Form Three do not have to pay fees, because that is part of the compulsory education system. From Form Four to Form Seven, a proportion of the cost is charged.
