We can't put a price on education, and we certainly can't measure value for money, the way we do for other goods, when it comes to providing high-quality education for our children. The fee rises by the English Schools Foundation (ESF) have become a subject of perennial debate and never-ending tug of war between school management and parents.
Parents have been told to expect a further monthly fee rise of up to 4 per cent from September, in addition to the new HK$25,000 capital levy. The ESF says the increases are necessary to fund a pay rise for teachers to keep salaries competitive and for the continuing expansion and improvement of services and equipment, as well as to counter inflation. The ESF board of governors is expected to make a decision next month.
Parents have vehemently opposed the proposed increases, which will bring secondary school fees at the government-subsidised schools close to HK$100,000 per child per year. They are asking for a freeze in fees and the scrapping of the HK$25,000 refundable capital levy.
Since the 2004-05 school year, fees for ESF primary schools have risen to HK$61,000 from HK$47,300 - a 29 per cent increase. Secondary school fees have gone up by 19 per cent to HK$93,500.
Parents object to the increases as they believe the ESF should contribute to the city's educational development with the provision of good and affordable education. They argue that the foundation has a significant role to play in maintaining Hong Kong's status as an international city by nurturing the next generation.
Their argument is only partially correct. We can't deny that, as an advanced city and a global financial centre, Hong Kong must maintain its competitive edge by nurturing talent to compete on the international stage. In the process of producing talent to boost our capability as a knowledge-based society, we must invest abundantly in education.
But we get what we pay for, and if we want to become the best of the best, we must be willing to pay top dollar for it. As the clich? goes, there are no free lunches. If someone has to pay for it, the question is, who?