Hong Kong’s direct subsidy scheme schools split on tuition for next year as parents struggle amid Covid-19 downturn
- While nearly half have pledged a tuition freeze, at least 22 of the government-subsidised institutions have already applied to raise fees in the coming year
- Ability to freeze or roll back tuition costs varies widely among schools, some of which are already operating at deficits, council chairman says
Among the city’s 71 DSS schools – government-subsidised institutions that occupy a middle ground between public and private – 35 have said they will freeze fees in 2020-21.
Education Bureau figures released on Monday, however, showed that 22 DSS schools had applied to raise fees as of May 5, though the bureau did not specify the sizes of the proposed increases. The remainder are pending formal application or revision.
A check by the Post found at least 10 of the popular DSS schools would freeze tuition fees in 2020-21, including St Paul’s Co-educational College, St Stephen’s College, HKUGA College and Ying Wa College, as well as Diocesan Boys’ School and Diocesan Girls’ School.
Tuition fees at these schools ranged from about HK$22,000 to HK$72,000 (US$2,800 to US$9,300) a year.