Hong Kong educators call for non-local admissions amid decline in Form One classes
Drop from 1,502 to 1,487 classes in past academic year prompts warnings of school closures from education leaders
Hong Kong secondary schools have 15 fewer Form One classes this academic year, prompting a sector representative to call on the government to allow publicly funded institutions to enrol non-local students in response to the drop in pupil numbers.
The number of Form One classes this school year at 381 government and aided schools taking part in the allocation system has fallen to 1,487 from 1,502 last year, according to the Secondary School Profiles 2025–26 compiled by the Committee on Home-School Cooperation and released on Friday.
Of the 1,487 schools, 16 have to operate one fewer Form One class, while one institution has been allowed to operate one more.
The number of Form One classes in a public school determines its long-term viability. Schools operating only a single one must submit a survival plan to officials for approval and will be required to close if their proposals are rejected.
Cheung Chau Government Secondary School failed to run two Form One classes this academic year and decided to merge with Tang Shiu Kin Victoria Government Secondary School in Wan Chai starting from the next school year.
According to the Secondary School Profiles, four secondary schools have seen their number of Form One classes reduced from three in 2024–25 to two in 2025–26, putting them on the brink of closure.