Hong Kong schools lose over 80 Primary One classes for new academic year, with sector fearing axe set to fall on more
- Two Primary One classes were cut at 10 schools while the others lost one each, according to ‘Primary School Profiles 2023’
- Lawmaker Chu Kwok-keung, a principal, says he expects the number of schools told to cease operating Primary One classes next year will exceed the latest figure
More than 80 Primary One classes in dozens of Hong Kong schools have been axed for the new academic year, the latest data shows, with the sector expecting more cuts to follow amid a shrinking student population.
The figure, higher than the 70 classes cut at 63 primary schools in 2022-23, reflected the mounting pressure the sector faced, a lawmaker said, complaining that education officials had also told head teachers to strengthen promotion to avoid closures.
According to “Primary School Profiles 2023” released by the Committee on Home-School Cooperation on Friday, over 80 Primary One classes from more than 70 government and aided primaries were axed for this academic year.
The figure includes five primary schools that were told in March they could not operate any Primary One classes for the new term due to insufficient enrolment.
The profiles show two Primary One classes were cut at 10 schools while the others lost one.
Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin on Saturday said adjusting the number of such classes was a pragmatic approach to dealing with the decreasing number of students.
“This is a structural problem due to the shrinking student population. We need to use a multi-pronged approach to tackle the reality,” she told a radio programme.