Parents will make monthly payments to international schools to avoid losses following college closure

International schools will be required to collect tuition fees on a monthly basis starting from next September in an attempt to reduce possible losses to parents.

The move is seen as a remedial measure following the sudden closure of three branches of the Canadian Overseas International College on Friday.

Assistant Director of Education Betty Ip Tsang Chui-hing said yesterday: 'We will introduce the new measures when we approve the next school year's fees level for international schools in March.'

Private schools are required to charge fees on a monthly basis following an amendment to the Education Ordinance in June. But international schools were granted exemption by the department to collect fees in two instalments.

It is understood that $12 million in tuition fees had been collected by the Canadian Overseas International College for this term.

About 400 affected parents and representatives of 11 international schools attended a joint admission seminar organised by the department yesterday. Interested parents were invited to submit applications immediately.

A department spokesman said that 11 schools, which offered about 400 primary and 300 secondary school places, received 49 applications and 150 forms expressing interest.