Hong Kong education chief unconcerned by number of pupils leaving city schools and heading overseas

Larger number of children leaving to study overseas because of coronavirus and anti-government protests

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung says there is ‘nothing to worry about’ at the moment

Reading Time:2 minutes

Hong Kong schools have reported a higher number of pupils withdrawing and heading overseas. Photo: Dickson Lee

Published: 9:30pm, 4 Nov 2020Updated: 10:36am, 5 Nov 2020

Hong Kong’s education chief has dismissed concerns over the high number of pupils withdrawing from local schools this year, after many were reported to have gone overseas because of the coronavirus pandemic and the city’s anti-government protests.

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said on Wednesday the government would continue to evaluate the situation and its impact on the education sector, although he stressed there was “nothing to worry about”.

Hundreds of schools have reported pupils withdrawing between February and September, according to a survey last month, with most furthering their studies overseas or in mainland China. Educators cited last year’s social unrest, and the pandemic as major reasons for their departures.

Among the 231 schools polled, 11 said more than 51 pupils had left during the period.

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung has dismissed concerns about the withdrawals. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

A major school heads association also told the Post some of the city’s schools had observed an increased number of pupils pulling out compared to the previous year, while also predicting the situation could continue over the coming months.

Yeung discussed the issue with more than 10 primary and secondary school representatives during a meeting on Tuesday, but a source said the government did not come up with concrete solutions to mitigate the impact of those withdrawals.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x