Hong Kong schools less popular with Chinese parents in Shenzhen
- Continuing unrest, anti-mainland sentiment and a long commute for ‘cross-border’ kids behind spike in inquiries
- International schools poised to pick up students as Hong Kong loses out
The attractions of a Hong Kong-based education are fading fast for some parents from Shenzhen, its neighbouring city in mainland China’s southern province of Guangdong.
Kara Gao, director of admissions at the independent Whittle School & Studios which opened a campus in Shenzhen earlier this year, said the rising demand from parents had been obvious for about two months.
“In the past, we sporadically had parents come to our sharing sessions. In these two months, the percentage of parents in Hong Kong who came increased quickly. They also came to us through different channels, such as recommended by friends, or they came in groups,” she told the South China Morning Post.
Gao said until recently parents had consulted the school – which caters for children aged three to 18 – for transfers when they had job changes or doubts about Hong Kong’s education offering. But, until recently, she had rarely seen people come in groups.