Number of Form Six graduates in Hong Kong heading outside city for studies drops 25% to record low
- Data collected from 449 local secondary schools shows 91 per cent picked Hong Kong, 9 per cent chose to study outside city
- ‘One of the possible reasons for the drop may be due to students advancing their overseas study plans and leaving Hong Kong before Form Six, as they may emigrate with their families,’ consultant says
The number of Form Six graduates in Hong Kong pursuing further studies outside the city has declined by 25 per cent year on year, falling to its lowest point since an official survey began 12 years ago, according to a government report.
A student guidance group and a secondary school council head attributed the low number to pupils possibly making the decision to head to other places earlier in their studies and the abundant choices offered by local postsecondary institutions.
According to the “2023 Secondary 6 Students’ Pathway Survey” released by the Education Bureau on Tuesday, which covered 40,951 out of 42,500 graduates, 94.3 per cent chose to pursue full-time studies, slightly higher than in 2022.
Among students choosing further education, 91 per cent, or 34,989, picked Hong Kong, up by 3 per cent from 2022. Another 9 per cent, or 3,609, chose to study outside the city, including going to mainland China, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the United States.
The latest figure was down by 25 per cent from 4,789 in 2022, hitting a new low since the government started conducting the annual survey in 2012.
The most recent peak of students going to other jurisdictions for further studies was in 2020, when Beijing imposed the national security law in the city after the 2019 social unrest. About 6,000 Form Six graduates decided to leave Hong Kong that year.