Student departures during academic year ease at some elite Hong Kong schools, but 10 per cent rate persists amid ongoing emigration wave
- Eight prominent subsidised schools reviewed by the Post saw record-high exit rates over the past three academic years
- ‘Most of the parents eager to emigrate may have already left’, according to Dion Chen, chairman of Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools Council
The number of students withdrawing from some of Hong Kong’s most prestigious schools has dropped, but high departure rates during the academic year persist at around 10 per cent amid an ongoing emigration wave, the Post has found after comparing reports from 18 elite institutions.
According to their latest annual reports, three elite secondary schools – regarded as semi-private – that were in the direct subsidy scheme (DSS) and charged tuition fees, recorded high early exit rates at around 8 to 11 per cent, marking a slight decrease from the previous year.
At least eight prominent subsidised schools, out of the 14 reports checked by the Post, saw record-high exit rates for the past three academic years.
The rate, voluntarily announced by schools, reflects the number of students leaving during the academic year.
Withdrawal rates at almost all 18 schools shot up in 2020-21 as the emigration wave kicked off, notably when Britain established the British National (Overseas) visa programme, a bespoke immigration pathway for Hongkongers.