94% of Hong Kong public schools partner mainland China institutions: Education Bureau
- As of May, 935 schools formed sister pairings with mainland counterparts to foster exchange and national identity, education authorities say
About 94 per cent of public and semi-private schools in Hong Kong have formed partnerships with mainland China counterparts to foster exchange and national identity among students, according to education authorities.
The Education Bureau also revealed that it had granted nearly HK$130 million (US$16.6 million) for the “Sister School Scheme” in the last academic year, and had no plan to extend funding to private and international institutions.
The bureau said in a written reply to the Legislative Council on Wednesday that 935 schools in Hong Kong had formed 2,933 sister pairings with their mainland counterparts as of last month.
Those schools include public and special ones, as well as those under the direct subsidy scheme (DSS). Each of the local schools can pair up with more than one mainland institution.
“Schools arrange exchange activities, such as school visits, student activities, seminars, teaching demonstrations, lesson evaluation, video conferencing and experience sharing, with their sister schools at student, teacher and school management levels based on their school-based development needs,” Choi Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education, said in the reply.
Schools that are paired with mainland institutions represent 94 per cent in Hong Kong, given the city has 991 public, DSS and special institutions.
The government launched the sister school scheme” in 2004 to encourage pairings with their mainland counterparts, with a goal of broadening students’ horizons and enhancing their sense of national identity.