Education officials are accused of being biased

Question are raised about why international primary schools may resume while local classes remain suspended

The government was accused of bias yesterday as the majority of international primary schools and kindergartens reopened despite the fact local primary classes remain suspended.

The row follows claims that Permanent Secretary for Education and Manpower Fanny Law Fan Chiu-fun told a meeting of international primary school representatives that they could resume because their class sizes were smaller, they had 'clean facilities' and parents were 'educated and financially able to provide their children with face-masks'.

The comments were reported on the Web site of Kingston International Primary School in Kowloon Tong to explain why it would reopen. But they have since been removed from the site at the request of the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) following a number of complaints.

Jane Liu, a parent with children studying at both local and the international schools, described it as 'blatant discrimination'. She said she was outraged by the implication that local schools were dirty and that parents were uneducated.

'If it's not safe for local schools to reopen, how can it be safe for an international school?' she said.

Mrs Law was unavailable for comment last night.

The EMB has since said international schools have been allowed to reopen because they follow different curricula to local schools.

But last night a spokesman said: 'Since international schools have smaller class sizes, generally enjoy good parental support, and are well resourced to take extra precautionary measures, we are prepared to be flexible, as long as the school has the support of the key stakeholders, namely, parents, teachers and the school board.'

Anne Tesluk, founder of the International Montessori School in Wan Chai, dismissed claims that the curricula made a difference. Her school has decided to stay shut.

At least 16 international primary schools and kindergartens opened yesterday, and 11 more are expected to open over the next week.

Ben Frankel, principal of the Hong Kong Academy Primary School in Stubbs Road, said 40 per cent of his pupils had returned, but he expected that number to gradually increase as confidence grew.

English Schools Foundation heads meet today to decide when their primary schools should return. They are expected to endorse a resumption of classes later this week, if parents approve the move.