As the government prepares to phase out many village classes, a top education official suggests a solution
Village schools should regroup into larger, centralised organisations in the New Territories and outlying islands, legislator Cheung Man-kwong said yesterday after the government stood firm on its decision to phase out schools with too few pupils.
At a meeting between education officials and nearly 60 representatives of village schools and parents, organised by the Heung Yee Kuk yesterday, Mr Cheung called on the village schools to consider his proposal.
However, he condemned the government for ignoring the fact that these schools could offer smaller classes and pay more individual attention to students than urban schools.
In April, the Education and Manpower Bureau ordered 55 primary schools, including 34 village schools, to stop offering Primary One classes this September after it increased the minimum admission quota from 16 to 23 to save money. The affected schools are expected to close in about three years as a result.
Village schools argued that the policy was unfair to them because their admission took place all year round, while the bureau only looked at their enrolment rate up to March. But their appeals have been fruitless so far.
'I believe that setting up a centralised village school in each of the districts that require more school places is a way out for the village schools,' said Mr Cheung, who also heads the Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union.
