Low admissions put more schools at risk At least 70 primary schools admitted only one class this month, placing them under threat of closure if they fail to attract the new minimum of 21 pupils in next year's admissions cycle. Twenty of the schools had run two or more Primary One classes in the last school year. The details were released in this year's database of primary school profiles, which was posted online by the Committee on Home-School Co-operation ahead of applications for 2008 admissions. The database has also revealed the full list of the 13 primary schools which this year failed to reach the previous threshold of 23 pupils to qualify for running a class. Aside from Fresh Fish Traders' School in Tai Kok Tsui - which has launched a public campaign to stay open - the list also includes a government school in Hung Hom and two Buddhist schools in Tuen Mun. The remaining nine schools are all run by Christian sponsoring bodies, mostly in Kowloon or in the New Territories. Fresh Fish Traders has opened a privately funded Primary One class this term, with a view to returning to normal admissions next year if it meets the new minimum threshold. Another of the 13 schools - Tai Po Baptist Public School - is doing the same. The other 11 have opted to cease admissions and are likely to close completely within the next three to four years. Two half-day schools - both in Tai Po - have also not admitted a Primary One class this term as they will merge with their linked morning sessions to switch to whole-day schooling. Secretary for Education Michael Suen Ming-yeung announced on Sunday reductions in the minimum and average class sizes for next year's Primary One entry, which are expected to reduce the impact of the decline in the student population. The average is planned to drop from between 32 and 37 to between 30 and 35, while the minimum admissions threshold is to be lowered by two, to 21. There have been repeated calls for the minimum-admission to be lowered or removed altogether since it was introduced in 2003. So far 54 schools have been closed according to the policy. Around 40 more ceased admissions in the previous three years, but have yet to close. William Lee Siu-hok, chairman of the Hong Kong Primary Education Research Association, said the drop in the minimum admission was welcome but did not go far enough. 'Of course this is good news, but a lot of schools remain in the danger zone,' he said. 'The number of students expected to enter Primary One next year is expected to be drop by more than 2,000. That means a reduction of over 90 classes.' Mr Lee said he was concerned how many of the 70-odd 'red light' schools with just one Primary One class would be able to make it past the low point in primary admissions. Lack of appeal Primary schools which failed to attract the minimum 23 pupils: Buddhist Lau Tin Sang Primary School, Tuen Mun; Buddhist Wong Sewai Memorial School, Tuen Mun; CCC Kei Ching Primary School, Tai Po; CCC Kei Leung Primary School, Tuen Mun; Chai Wan Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School; Fresh Fish Traders' School, Tai Kok Tsui; Hung Hom Government School; Salvation Army Sam Shing Chuen Lau Ng Ying School, Tuen Mun; SKH All Saints' Primary School, Mong Kok; SKH Kei Sum Primary School, Wong Tai Sin; Stewards Pooi Yin Primary School, Tai Po; Tai Po Baptist Public School; Tsuen Wan Lutheran School
