$70,000 school fees proposed in review

Some parents may have to pay more than $70,000 a year for their children's secondary school education under a proposed new funding formula aimed at convincing more schools to leave the public sector.

The revised formula released at a Legco education panel meeting yesterday drew fierce criticism from panel members, who said it could deprive poor students of quality education.

Schools would still receive $30,229 in government funding for each student while charging them annual fees of up to $70,534 under the proposed revisions to the Direct Subsidy Scheme due to be carried out from the next school year. The scheme, introduced in 1988, provides recurrent funding for secondary schools that come under it and allows them more freedom in their curriculum, setting fees, admission criteria and staff employment.

The subsidy is payable on a per student basis and encourages schools to attract quality students. Officials say the new funding formula would benefit students, as schools would be required to set aside part of the funding for scholarships.

But panel member Cheung Man-kwong of the Democratic Party, who represents the education sector in the legislature, said the proposal would confine parents' choices to schools with fees they could afford. 'It is to force poor students out of elite schools, and $70,000 is already a year's income for some families,' he said.

Students can currently choose to enter elite schools under a place allocation system, provided they are academically capable.