Competition among community colleges for quality students is escalating as the number of programmes available for Form Seven graduates continues to grow.
As the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) increases the number of two-year higher diploma courses for Form Seven graduates, senior lecturer at the social studies division of City University of Hong Kong, Fung Wai-wah said the competition was going to be tough.
The IVE will offer an additional 1,600 two-year higher diploma course places in the coming school year, bringing the total number of places to 3,000.
The number of programmes will rise from 26 to 62 courses. Tuition fees range between HK$24,700 and HK$39,000, as some are subsidised.
'The number of Form Seven graduates has not grown dramatically but the number of associate degree places and courses for these students is increasing,' said Dr Fung who also teaches associate degree programmes at the university's community college.
'More people are trying for the same cake. It is going to be tough.'
Some colleges were pushed to recruit students who failed in English in public examinations in the wake of keen competition, he added.
