https://www.scmp.com/rss/167001/feed The English Schools Foundation (ESF) operates five secondary schools, nine primary schools and a school for students with special educational needs across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories. It is the largest international educational foundation in Asia. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com William Yiu William Yiu The reserves of Hong Kong’s largest international school group have more than tripled to HK$3.75 billion (US$480.8 million) in over a decade, even as it taps different income sources to offset shrinking government subsidies, the South China Morning Post has found by reviewing the organisation’s annual reports. The English Schools Foundation (ESF) also said in its annual report for the 2024-25 academic year that it expected increased competition for students and it would modernise its marketing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3351498/esf-reserves-reach-hk375-billion-even-government-subsidies-shrink?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3351498/esf-reserves-reach-hk375-billion-even-government-subsidies-shrink?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:30:09 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A former kindergarten administrator at Hong Kong’s biggest international school group has been sentenced to 25 months in jail for accepting more than HK$640,000 (US$81,700) in bribes from 13 parents and a middleman to tamper with the admissions system. Fatima Rumjahn, 56, earlier admitted to accepting bribes ranging from HK$20,000 to HK$200,000 from parents eager to secure enrolment for their children at the English Schools Foundation’s (ESF) Wu Kai Sha International Kindergarten. At Monday’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350700/esf-administrator-jailed-25-months-accepting-bribes-favour-applicants?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350700/esf-administrator-jailed-25-months-accepting-bribes-favour-applicants?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 07:43:03 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Like their local counterparts, international schools in Hong Kong are also facing difficulties in enrolment amid changing demographics. The latest revelation that eight international school operators, including the city’s largest, the English Schools Foundation (ESF), have failed to meet the non-local admission targets is not surprising. It underlines the challenges Hong Kong faces as it strives to enhance its international appeal to expatriates. According to the Education Bureau, the proportion... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349611/making-hong-kong-desirable-overseas-students-must-be-priority?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349611/making-hong-kong-desirable-overseas-students-must-be-priority?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 23:15:09 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Eight international school operators in Hong Kong, including the city’s largest group, failed to admit enough non-local students this academic year, breaching their pledge to the government. The English Schools Foundation (ESF) said it had been increasing the proportion of “non-local passport holders” since the end of the pandemic, but noted it might take several years to return to mandated levels after being allowed to admit more local students during that period. The Education Bureau told the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349156/esf-among-8-international-school-operators-failed-meet-non-local-student-targets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349156/esf-among-8-international-school-operators-failed-meet-non-local-student-targets?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A Hong Kong court has sentenced 13 parents and a middleman to up to 14 months in jail for offering bribes ranging from HK$20,000 to HK$200,000 (US$2,600 to US$25,600) to a kindergarten administrator at the city’s biggest international school group in exchange for enrolments. In earlier mitigation, some of the defendants pinned the blame on Fatima Rumjahn, accusing the former English Schools Foundation (ESF) employee of “taking advantage of the parents’ eagerness to get their children into... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348521/13-parents-merchant-get-14-months-jail-bribing-esf-employee?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348521/13-parents-merchant-get-14-months-jail-bribing-esf-employee?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 08:12:41 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s largest international school group plans to raise tuition fees by an average of 4.1 per cent for most of its primary and secondary divisions next academic year – or roughly HK$600 and HK$720 (US$77 and US$92) more per month, respectively – pending approval by authorities. The English Schools Foundation (ESF) also said on Tuesday that its kindergartens would raise fees by 5.8 per cent under the proposal. At Discovery College in Discovery Bay on Lantau Island, one of the foundation’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347674/hong-kongs-esf-schools-group-plans-increase-fees-41-average-next-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347674/hong-kongs-esf-schools-group-plans-increase-fees-41-average-next-year?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 05:29:12 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing More than 400 foreign domestic helpers gathered at an international school campus in Hong Kong on Friday as 50 students paid tribute to their contributions as “second mothers” who help shape a multicultural environment at home. The organising student committee for the event at the English Schools Foundation’s Renaissance College in Ma On Shan said it hoped to inspire the wider community to cherish their domestic workers. The “Jie Jie Day” event, held annually by the school for 14 years, was also... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346551/hong-kong-students-honour-over-400-foreign-domestic-helpers-second-mothers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346551/hong-kong-students-honour-over-400-foreign-domestic-helpers-second-mothers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:39:11 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A Hong Kong court has convicted 13 parents and a merchant who offered HK$20,000 to HK$200,000 (US$2,600 to US$25,600) to bribe a kindergarten administrator at the city’s biggest international school group in exchange for enrolments. Deputy District Judge Amy Chan Wai-mun said on Tuesday that a custodial sentence would be the only suitable punishment for the 14 defendants found guilty of bribing Fatima Rumjahn, a former employee at the English Schools Foundation (ESF), to obtain K1 placements for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344447/13-parents-1-other-convicted-offering-bribes-obtain-places-hong-kong-school?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344447/13-parents-1-other-convicted-offering-bribes-obtain-places-hong-kong-school?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 08:12:29 +0000 Grace Brewer Grace Brewer For many parents in Hong Kong, securing a place for their child in a prestigious kindergarten is more than just an early educational milestone – it’s a decision that can lay the foundation for future academic success and, eventually, for career opportunities. Early admission into top kindergartens is increasingly viewed as the first crucial step in accessing elite primary and secondary schools, which in turn can serve as gateways to leading universities worldwide. Learning without... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3329348/getting-head-start-prestigious-kindergartens-hong-kong-can-lead-elite-education-and-successful?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3329348/getting-head-start-prestigious-kindergartens-hong-kong-can-lead-elite-education-and-successful?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 04:42:11 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The English Schools Foundation (ESF) in Hong Kong will open three new kindergartens offering a total of 400 first-year places in 2026 while closing two existing ones, the city’s largest international school group has revealed. The ESF told the Post on Wednesday that it would launch three new kindergartens in Sai Sha, Kornhill in Quarry Bay and West Kowloon, next to an MTR station. Two existing ESF kindergartens – one in Tung Chung and Abacus International Kinder­garten in Sai Kung – are set to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3329178/english-schools-foundation-hong-kong-open-3-new-kindergartens-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3329178/english-schools-foundation-hong-kong-open-3-new-kindergartens-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 01:18:49 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu A court case has thrust the financial practices of Hong Kong’s international schools into the spotlight, prompting fresh scrutiny of how they raise funds with debentures and capital levies. On Wednesday, the US-based Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), which co-founded the Hong Kong International School (HKIS), said it would sue the school’s operator for allegedly breaching an operational agreement, accusing the institution of serving only the “rich and privileged few” and amassing excessive... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3325387/hong-kong-international-schools-debentures-and-capital-levies-how-do-they-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3325387/hong-kong-international-schools-debentures-and-capital-levies-how-do-they-work?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Sep 2025 01:03:55 +0000 Ng Kang-chung,William Yiu Ng Kang-chung,William Yiu A third of Hong Kong pupils taking this year’s International Baccalaureate (IB) programme have attained near-perfect or full marks, representing nearly 10 per cent of the top achievers globally, according to the latest data. Schools offering the curriculum attributed the students’ performance to their strengths in languages, as well as the local culture that placed great emphasis on academic excellence. Pupils from Hong Kong achieved an average total points score that was significantly higher... https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3317417/one-third-hong-kong-ib-candidates-attain-near-perfect-or-full-marks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3317417/one-third-hong-kong-ib-candidates-attain-near-perfect-or-full-marks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Jul 2025 13:00:13 +0000 William Yiu,Lynn Zhang William Yiu,Lynn Zhang Fifteen students from Hong Kong’s largest international school group who achieved high scores in the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme have shared their aspirations and preparation insights, with 11 planning to study medicine in the city. Another five students from the German Swiss International School on The Peak achieved top marks in the IB programme, on a par with Victoria Shanghai Academy, bringing the number of top scorers in the city to 37. The English Schools Foundation (ESF),... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3317229/top-scoring-ib-students-hong-kongs-esf-school-group-share-success-insights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3317229/top-scoring-ib-students-hong-kongs-esf-school-group-share-success-insights?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:00:08 +0000 Amalissa Hall Amalissa Hall Social media is pervasive in the lives of adults and adolescents alike: beyond simply being communication and image-sharing platforms, the likes of Instagram, YouTube and Facebook have become sources of news, information and entertainment, and are so integrated into daily life that they can be hard to disengage from. A US-based study from 2016 revealed how the addictive use of social media platforms and video games correlated with mental health disorders, and technology since has only further... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3313328/tackling-social-medias-impact-teens-mental-health?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3313328/tackling-social-medias-impact-teens-mental-health?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Jun 2025 22:00:14 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s school curriculum framework has been revised to incorporate national education elements in more subjects, including English, maths, music, visual arts and sports. Teaching examples include learning about ancient mathematicians’ achievements, holding Chinese folk singing contests and learning how to play Chinese football games. Schools have also been asked to play patriotic songs on different occasions and broadcast major sports games live to boost patriotism. In a circular on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3312529/hong-kong-schools-told-add-national-education-elements-more-subjects?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3312529/hong-kong-schools-told-add-national-education-elements-more-subjects?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 May 2025 13:24:32 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s largest international school group plans to raise tuition fees by about 4.8 per cent on average – or as much as HK$750 (US$96.40) per month – for most of its primary and secondary sections in the next academic year, pending authorities’ approval. The proposed increase by the English Schools Foundation (ESF) is higher than what some other major international schools are seeking, but they also generally charge more than it does. ESF members met on Monday to approve its budget for the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3304696/hong-kongs-esf-international-school-group-plans-fee-increment-about-48?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3304696/hong-kongs-esf-international-school-group-plans-fee-increment-about-48?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Apr 2025 05:40:16 +0000 Since the late 19th century, Hong Kong’s high-quality English-medium schools have attracted a student population who originally hailed from elsewhere in Southeast Asia or southern China. Multi-faceted reasons, interwoven with broader regional realities, lay behind an individual family’s decision to send their children to study here. Spanish mestizo children from across the Philippines, French Eurasians from various parts of Indochina, and the mixed-race offspring of teak company employees in... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3302236/tracing-evolution-hong-kongs-elite-english-medium-schools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3302236/tracing-evolution-hong-kongs-elite-english-medium-schools?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Mar 2025 08:15:08 +0000 Hong Kong is well known for its densely packed population, but one place that may be less crammed than usual next year is kindergarten. Due to long-declining birth rates, figures suggest that the territory’s kindergartens expect to face a significant enrolment dip in 2025, after a record low birth rate in 2022. Only 32,500 newborns were recorded that year compared to 33,200 babies in 2023 – the second lowest number on record since data became available in 1960. According to Felix Yan Ho-on,... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3293311/why-international-kindergartens-are-bucking-wider-trend-school-closures-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3293311/why-international-kindergartens-are-bucking-wider-trend-school-closures-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Jan 2025 09:08:39 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying A former kindergarten administrator at Hong Kong’s biggest international school group has pleaded guilty to accepting bribes to help parents secure spots for their children, while also planning to pocket HK$530,000 (US$68,180) for placements. Former English Schools Foundation (ESF) employee Fatima Rumjahn, 54, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to nine counts out of the 13 she was facing after being charged by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). She admitted to all four counts of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3283495/former-worker-hong-kongs-esf-school-group-pleads-guilty-taking-bribes-k1-spots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3283495/former-worker-hong-kongs-esf-school-group-pleads-guilty-taking-bribes-k1-spots?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Oct 2024 07:10:32 +0000 Hong Kong’s largest international school group plans to open a new kindergarten in two years as part of a major developer’s mega project in the Sai Kung area, while also announcing it will close another institution in Tung Chung. The English School Foundation (ESF) said on Wednesday that all students studying at the coming kindergarten, which will be located in Sai Sha, would be directly promoted to the nearby ESF Renaissance College. Under the current system, K1 students who enrolled from... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3275384/hong-kongs-esf-school-group-open-kindergarten-under-mega-project-sai-kung?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3275384/hong-kongs-esf-school-group-open-kindergarten-under-mega-project-sai-kung?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Aug 2024 01:00:09 +0000 The number of students in Hong Kong’s international schools has reached an 11-year high, but the proportion of those in local institutions dropped to a record low amid a shrinking pupil population, official data has shown. The latest census report said international schools recorded an 18 per cent increase in the number of students over the current academic year compared with 2013, with government and aided ones seeing a 12 per cent decline over the same period. An international school education... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3273160/number-students-hong-kong-international-schools-rises-18-highest-level-2013?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3273160/number-students-hong-kong-international-schools-rises-18-highest-level-2013?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Aug 2024 02:00:14 +0000 Three of Hong Kong’s highest-scoring students in the recent Diploma of Secondary Education examinations attended the RTHK studio last Monday to discuss their results and aspirations. The young men, all from Diocesan Boys’ School, impressed with their demeanour. They were articulate about their next steps for study and employment. Two were going into medicine, would attend university in Hong Kong then practise here after graduation. They were keen to pay back to the community that had nurtured... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3271870/key-hong-kongs-success-stay-chinas-international-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3271870/key-hong-kongs-success-stay-chinas-international-city?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Jul 2024 07:30:12 +0000 Some of Hong Kong’s top scorers in the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme have said that good time management and maintaining their interests and social lives were key to their success. They were among 17 English Schools Foundation (ESF) students – out of at least 32 in Hong Kong – who attained a full score of 45. The students from the ESF, the largest group of international schools in Hong Kong, also attributed their success to support from family, teachers, and friends, highlighting... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3269497/some-hong-kongs-top-scorers-ib-programme-reveal-secrets-their-success?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3269497/some-hong-kongs-top-scorers-ib-programme-reveal-secrets-their-success?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Jul 2024 08:33:13 +0000 The number of Hong Kong students in international schools tripled between 2013 and last year, while the proportion of non-locals shrank sharply, government data has shown. Total enrolment in the city’s international schools rose by about a fifth over that period, from about 35,000 to 42,000 pupils, but the split between locals and non-locals did not rise proportionally. Non-local students made up 81 per cent of the international schools’ enrolment in 2013, but only 65 per cent last year,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3260662/number-hong-kong-pupils-international-schools-tripled-10-years-amid-decline-non-local-enrolment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3260662/number-hong-kong-pupils-international-schools-tripled-10-years-amid-decline-non-local-enrolment?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Apr 2024 04:00:20 +0000 Hong Kong’s largest international school group plans to raise tuition fees by about 5 per cent on average in the coming academic year to support the hiring and retaining of teachers and support staff. According to the announcement by the English Schools Foundation (ESF) on Monday, two preschools in the Mid-Levels and Sai Kung faced the highest increase of 8.25 per cent and 7.72 per cent, respectively. The group said its board had greenlit an average 4.8 per cent rise in fees, but the increase... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3259104/hong-kongs-esf-international-school-group-plans-raise-tuition-fees-about-5?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3259104/hong-kongs-esf-international-school-group-plans-raise-tuition-fees-about-5?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Apr 2024 14:16:47 +0000 International school operators in Hong Kong are interested in taking up two vacant campus sites which can offer places for about 1,000 pupils in total, according to the Education Bureau. The English Schools Foundation (ESF), the city’s largest international school group, confirmed it was eyeing the larger site in Kowloon Tong. The other site is in North Point. The bureau told the Post it received a “very positive” response after it informed international school operators in December that the two... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3256503/vacant-hong-kong-campuses-attract-very-positive-response-international-schools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3256503/vacant-hong-kong-campuses-attract-very-positive-response-international-schools?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Mar 2024 06:00:47 +0000 The largest international school group in Hong Kong has said it will offer priority in the interview process to children of workers who have arrived under a new talent scheme. An international education consultant on Tuesday explained the English Schools Foundation (ESF) could attract more mainland Chinese students if it lowered language requirements, after the institution on Monday said it wanted to provide a dedicated pathway for new arrivals to interview for places. “We also want to help new... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3233519/hong-kongs-esf-will-give-interview-priority-children-workers-who-arrive-under-talent-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3233519/hong-kongs-esf-will-give-interview-priority-children-workers-who-arrive-under-talent-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Sep 2023 23:00:20 +0000 There is no doubt that the pandemic has had a pronounced impact on the mental well-being of students. For this reason, pastoral care and well-being have become key priorities at many of the city’s schools. “The impact of Covid-19 on students in Hong Kong has been far-reaching, affecting many aspects of their lives. One of the most significant impacts has been on students’ mental health,” says Tracey Chitty, safeguarding and well-being adviser, student support services at the English Schools... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3218569/well-being-wake-pandemic-pastoral-care-priority-hong-kong-schools-they-address-what-english-schools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3218569/well-being-wake-pandemic-pastoral-care-priority-hong-kong-schools-they-address-what-english-schools?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 May 2023 03:00:11 +0000 Hong Kong parents who want to enrol their children in English Schools Foundation will be allowed to choose any of its 22 institutions from August after the group announced plans to drop the current residence-based place allocation policy. The city’s largest international school group said the change was to give parents more choice, but an education consultant said the new policy would also allow ESF more flexibility to move applicants around and balance the pupil population among their... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3221825/hong-kong-parents-be-allowed-enrol-their-children-any-esf-school-their-choice-regardless-where-they?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3221825/hong-kong-parents-be-allowed-enrol-their-children-any-esf-school-their-choice-regardless-where-they?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 May 2023 10:54:24 +0000 When it comes to early years schooling, educators and parents can agree that it is the most crucial and formative period, laying the foundation for a child’s future success in learning. This is the time when children can most easily foster a positive attitude towards accruing knowledge, and appealing to their natural interest in play can go a long way to ensure future progress. “That is the time when they create meaning in what they learn and this positive attitude carries with them for the rest... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3218552/what-do-kids-learn-play-their-early-years-experts-hong-kongs-reggio-emilia-and-montessori-schools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3218552/what-do-kids-learn-play-their-early-years-experts-hong-kongs-reggio-emilia-and-montessori-schools?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 May 2023 03:00:14 +0000 Read more of SCMP’s Good Schools Guide The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) has been the dominant secondary school curriculum used by Hong Kong international schools for more than a decade. The two-year programme is known for its academic rigour, requiring students to study six subjects including some combination of English, language studies, science, maths, social sciences and creative studies. The IBDP excels at creating well-rounded students who are knowledgeable in a... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3218272/ibcp-paradigm-shift-education-new-international-baccalaureate-career-related-programme-could-be-game?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3218272/ibcp-paradigm-shift-education-new-international-baccalaureate-career-related-programme-could-be-game?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 May 2023 03:01:07 +0000 The number of non-local students studying at international schools in Hong Kong has fallen by nearly 12 per cent in the last four years, according to education authorities, who have reiterated that operators may lose their contracts if they fail to meet the required threshold for enrolment. At a Legislative Council meeting on Monday, the Education Bureau also dismissed the concerns of a lawmaker that the changes in enrolment levels had indirectly led local schools to slash classes or even cease... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3217346/international-schools-hong-kong-lose-12-cent-non-local-students-4-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3217346/international-schools-hong-kong-lose-12-cent-non-local-students-4-years?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Apr 2023 10:30:37 +0000 Hong Kong’s biggest international school group plans to raise tuition fees by an average of 5.8 per cent in the coming academic year to help attract the best teachers in an “incredibly competitive” market. But the English Schools Foundation on Monday also said it would incorporate various compulsory charges into the fees, meaning the actual annual increase was 4.9 per cent. The foundation, which has more than 18,000 students studying at its 22 kindergartens, primary schools and secondaries,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3215047/hong-kongs-esf-international-school-group-aims-raise-fees-58-cent-average-coming-academic-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3215047/hong-kongs-esf-international-school-group-aims-raise-fees-58-cent-average-coming-academic-year?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Mar 2023 23:30:25 +0000 Learning a second language can help develop a student’s cognitive abilities for better thinking, reasoning and problem-solving skills, and those who speak multiple languages are more likely to excel in other academic subjects. Fluency in a foreign language can also prepare students for future studies and their career in our global economy. To this end, nearly all Hong Kong’s international schools offer students options to learn a second, or even third, language in addition to English, which is... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3203397/learning-another-language-transforms-how-children-think-and-outside-classroom-heres-how-students-are?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3203397/learning-another-language-transforms-how-children-think-and-outside-classroom-heres-how-students-are?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Feb 2023 03:00:11 +0000 Nearly 60 per cent of the perfect scorers in International Baccalaureate (IB) exams from the biggest international school group in Hong Kong have chosen to study overseas, with one student planning to pursue aerospace engineering to fulfil his dream of becoming an astronaut. The 36 perfect scorers from English Schools Foundation (ESF) shared their aspirations with the media on Thursday, a day after IB organisers revealed a total of 93 Hong Kong students attained a perfect score this year, 37... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3184478/nearly-60-cent-hong-kongs-perfect-scorers-international?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3184478/nearly-60-cent-hong-kongs-perfect-scorers-international?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Jul 2022 10:16:15 +0000 The biggest international school group in Hong Kong will launch its first half-day pre-nursery classes in August as part of a trial run at one of its kindergartens, despite the city’s shrinking student population and the historically low birth rate. The English Schools Foundation (ESF) Tung Chung International Kindergarten said the new three-hour pre-nursery class would not guarantee the direct progression of pupils into the group’s most competitive centres, but would ensure their applications... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3181304/largest-international-school-group-hong-kong-launch-trial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3181304/largest-international-school-group-hong-kong-launch-trial?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Jun 2022 04:00:14 +0000 A former kindergarten administrator under Hong Kong’s biggest international school group has been asked to stay in the city and surrender all travel documents to a court as part of her bail conditions in a case where she stands accused of taking more than HK$840,000 (US$107,024) in bribes from 14 parents to help secure placements. Former English Schools Foundation (ESF) employee Fatima Rumjahn, 52, did not have to enter a plea when she first appeared before Sha Tin Court on Friday, as... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3181241/hong-kong-court-tells-former-esf-worker-accused-taking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3181241/hong-kong-court-tells-former-esf-worker-accused-taking?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jun 2022 09:22:50 +0000 The seemingly simple act of drawing a picture with crayons or paint can benefit a child’s mental development as much as reading, mathematics and other aspects of their education that are often prioritised over art. From the obvious benefits such as helping children practise their motor skills to the lesser-known pros such as nurturing their ability to solve problems, educators share how art can bring more than colour and joy to a child’s educational journey. Improving motor skills Getting... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3173525/why-studying-art-vital-childs-mental-development-fine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3173525/why-studying-art-vital-childs-mental-development-fine?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 May 2022 04:00:10 +0000 Hong Kong’s biggest international school group will give each of its more than 18,000 students a HK$1,600 (US$203) relief grant amid the “challenging times” of the Covid-19 pandemic after announcing a fee rise last month. The English Schools Foundation (ESF), which runs 22 institutions, told parents in a letter on Thursday that it had decided to offer the grant to students, who can choose to accept it by May 16. Hong Kong’s ESF school group to raise tuition fees for students Parents with more... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3176590/hong-kongs-esf-school-group-offer-its-18000-pupils-hk1600?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3176590/hong-kongs-esf-school-group-offer-its-18000-pupils-hk1600?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 May 2022 05:56:06 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification. I would at the outset like to express my heartfelt thanks to all the medical professionals and care givers of Hong Kong, in particular, those who work on the “dirty teams” of public hospitals.... https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3175953/three-ways-hong-kong-public-hospitals-can-handle-covid-19-cases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3175953/three-ways-hong-kong-public-hospitals-can-handle-covid-19-cases?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 May 2022 03:30:19 +0000 Hong Kong’s biggest international school group will raise tuition fees for most of its primary and secondary grades by about 3 per cent after a price freeze for two consecutive years. The English Schools Foundation (ESF), which runs 22 kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, and has more than 18,000 pupils, told parents in a letter on Tuesday that the proposed increase was to ensure it could continue to attract and retain high-quality teachers. “The budget for 2022-23 takes into account... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3175609/hong-kongs-biggest-international-school-group-raise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3175609/hong-kongs-biggest-international-school-group-raise?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Apr 2022 14:29:26 +0000 Five kindergartens run by Hong Kong’s biggest international school group will resume face-to-face classes from Wednesday, six days ahead of schedule, after education authorities amended their previous decision amid complaints of unfair treatment. The announcement on Tuesday by the English Schools Foundation (ESF) came after parents of pupils at the five kindergartens complained that their children would be forced to wait until May to resume in-person classes. “ESF has been liaising closely with... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3175569/hong-kong-kindergartens-run-esf-resume-face-face-classes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3175569/hong-kong-kindergartens-run-esf-resume-face-face-classes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Apr 2022 10:02:23 +0000 Parents of pupils at five kindergartens run by Hong Kong’s biggest international school group have complained of unfair treatment by authorities after they discovered the campuses were excluded from resuming in-person teaching next Tuesday. Several parents have written to the Post over the past week, complaining about a “policy loophole” after they learned that face-to-face classes would only resume from May 3 at kindergartens under the English Schools Foundation (ESF). Last Monday, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3174441/hong-kong-parents-angry-late-return-classes-esf?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3174441/hong-kong-parents-angry-late-return-classes-esf?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Apr 2022 11:47:35 +0000 Students at an international school group in Hong Kong will not be allowed to skip exams in late April amid an ongoing coronavirus outbreak, despite candidates voicing fears of cross-infection. With the city reporting more than 20,000 Covid-19 cases daily, a group of Island School students, part of the English Schools Foundation (ESF), argued they should be allowed to take a non-exam route for their International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Programme organiser, the International... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3170679/esf-students-told-exams-hong-kong-go-ahead-planned-despite?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3170679/esf-students-told-exams-hong-kong-go-ahead-planned-despite?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Mar 2022 10:04:53 +0000 An international school group has required all its staff to remain in Hong Kong during term time after some of its employees were found to have obtained long-term sick leave with the intention of exiting the city. The requirement, unveiled by the English Schools Foundation (ESF) on Wednesday, came after the government’s decision to bring students’ summer holidays forward to March and April amid a surging wave of Covid-19 infections in the city. International schools, however, were allowed to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3169137/international-school-group-tells-staff-remain-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3169137/international-school-group-tells-staff-remain-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Mar 2022 12:46:47 +0000 International and senior students could be allowed to continue their studies online in March and April, when the rest of Hong Kong’s pupils begin their summer holidays under a timetable revised due to the Covid-19 pandemic, after school heads raised strong concerns over disruptions to learning. Local and international school heads reported on Wednesday the likely concession following discussions with education officials, a day after Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced school... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3168141/education-bureau-open-letting-international-and-older?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3168141/education-bureau-open-letting-international-and-older?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Feb 2022 00:30:21 +0000 Hong Kong rugby kicked off the new year with its traditional youth tournament on Saturday, and a series of games between club select sides and the English Schools Foundation (ESF). ESF had the better of the day at Hong Kong Football Club, winning the boys and girls under-19 encounters, 19-10 and 27-26 respectively. In the day’s under-16 games, the clubs won the girls’ match 12-7, while the two sides drew 12-12 in the boys’ encounter. It was a successful day all round for ESF, with u19 player... https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3161808/esf-sides-shine-hong-kong-rugbys-traditional-new?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hong-kong-rugby-union/article/3161808/esf-sides-shine-hong-kong-rugbys-traditional-new?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Jan 2022 00:15:15 +0000 Major international schools in Hong Kong are shortening their year-end and other breaks to give expatriate staff a longer summer holiday to return home and still meet the city’s strict quarantine requirements. The schools are worried that teachers unhappy that they could not return home this year because of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions might resign over the long separation from their families. The summer holidays are usually six weeks. Many schools are extending next year’s summer break to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3159310/will-hong-kong-lose-expat-teachers-over-strict-covid-19?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3159310/will-hong-kong-lose-expat-teachers-over-strict-covid-19?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Dec 2021 08:30:29 +0000 Royce Leung Man-hin had not imagined he would be on the path to becoming a doctor, but getting a perfect score in this year’s International Baccalaureate exams has put him a step closer to fulfilling his childhood dream. The 17-year-old English Schools Foundation (ESF) student, who has had a moderate hearing impairment since he was six, said the perfect score of 45 points was “surprising” as his previous internal predicted grade was 39 and he had not been confident enough to apply to read... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3140214/esf-sees-record-number-perfect-scorers-ib-exams-including?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3140214/esf-sees-record-number-perfect-scorers-ib-exams-including?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jul 2021 12:08:30 +0000 Hong Kong’s biggest international school group has appointed the head of a self-financed tertiary institution as its governing board’s new chairman. Kim Mak Kin-wah, president of the Caritas Institute of Higher Education and Caritas Bianchi College of Careers, took over the top role at the English Schools Foundation (ESF) this week from pro-establishment lawmaker Abraham Razack, who completed his term in early May after serving a maximum two terms spanning six years. “I will take most seriously... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3134440/new-chairman-hong-kongs-biggest-international-school-group?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3134440/new-chairman-hong-kongs-biggest-international-school-group?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 May 2021 15:42:05 +0000