Lingnan students warn burgeoning numbers threaten education quality

A student group has called on the government to increase scrutiny of sub-degree programmes to prevent "chaos" at tertiary institutions that could jeopardise the quality of education.

The call came as the Concern CCLU and LIFE Action Group submitted a formal complaint to the Legislative Council yesterday about alleged over-enrolment at the two non-degree colleges operated by Lingnan University.

The university confirmed yesterday that 7,100 students had been enrolled this year at the Community College at Lingnan University (CCLU) and Lingnan Institute of Further Education (LIFE).

This included 5,300 new students, three times the number admitted last year, group spokesman Chao Suet-ying said.

Chao said the government must step up its scrutiny of self-financed sub-degree programmes because administrative "chaos" could jeopardise the quality of education and Hong Kong's reputation as an education hub.

The university's student union leader Chan Shu-fai said there had been cases reported from both colleges where students found a lack of chairs in classes that had been unexpectedly expanded.