‘5 public schools face axe in Hong Kong after failing to meet Primary One enrolment threshold’
- Sources say schools told earlier this month by Education Bureau they could not operate Primary One classes in next academic year
- Institutions may be forced to close in three years’ time when bureau cuts funding, they say
Two principals, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, on Monday said the schools were told earlier this month by the Education Bureau that they could not operate Primary One classes in the next academic year as they had failed to meet the minimum threshold of 16 students. It was previously reported that only one school had fallen short of the requirement.
The five institutions might be forced to close in three years’ time when the bureau stopped subsidising them, said the principals, who are not connected to the schools.
“With such a downward trend in the student population, it is already fewer than expected to have only five schools facing the axe,” one of them said.
Among the five was the 69-year-old St Charles School in Central and Western district, which currently has two Primary One classes.
Both the school and the Catholic diocese, its sponsoring body, did not reply to the Post’s inquiries.
One of the schools is said to be located in the Eastern district, the area in Hong Kong with the most rapidly ageing population.
