Hundreds of students affected as controversy continues for private education sector

Hundreds of students were affected yesterday when all three branches of a private school closed without warning.

The Sun Institute of Technology and Matriculation ran courses for students from Form Four to Form Seven and computer studies classes at branches in Mongkok, Yau Ma Tei and Jordan. It is the first private school to go out of business this year.

The institute's closure follows a series of controversies in the private education sector in the past three months. Educational bodies have criticised the Education Department for not being vigilant enough in monitoring the 1,300 private schools.

A department spokesman said more than 200 students were affected by the closure, but some students at the institute estimated 1,000 students had been enrolled.

'We will offer assistance to those who wish to continue their studies in government evening schools,' the spokesman said. 'We have also liaised with the Hong Kong Examinations Authority to help those students who intend to take part in the 2002 Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination.'

The institute's founder, Chan Hing-shing, ran the Baptist Educational Institution, which closed in 1982 after falling into arrears with rent and teachers' salaries. Mr Chan set up the Sun Institute in July.

Yeung Yiu-chung, legislator and president of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers, said the department should have been more vigilant in approving registration of private schools. 'It should require all school shareholders to declare their past records in running private schools,' he said.