https://www.scmp.com/rss/324202/feed A look at the news and issues arising from kindergarten to secondary-level education around Hong Kong. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s No 2 official has pledged to fast-track a new university town’s development following a visit to similar projects in mainland China, saying authorities will devise a strategy to attract top institutions from across the border and overseas to take part. Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki and his working group on the university town’s planning and construction, which falls under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis, concluded their three-day visit to the mainland... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348906/university-town-be-fast-tracked-eric-chan-says-after-mainland-china-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348906/university-town-be-fast-tracked-eric-chan-says-after-mainland-china-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 05:55:23 +0000 Andrea Lo Andrea Lo Hong Kong’s international schools talk a great deal about preparing students for university. Increasingly, they are also building spaces with this in mind. Rather than functioning simply as a backdrop to academic programmes, the physical environment is envisioned as a tool to shape behaviour. In new campuses, students are encouraged to practise independence, engage in collaborative work and build the self-management skills they will need beyond school. Stamford American School’s West Kowloon... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3348636/how-hong-kong-schools-are-transforming-mirror-university-style-spaces?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3348636/how-hong-kong-schools-are-transforming-mirror-university-style-spaces?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 07:15:07 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Four of 15 Hong Kong public primary schools at risk of closure due to insufficient enrolment plan to shut down, while nine are seeking to merge with other institutions, the Education Bureau has said. One intended to run Primary One classes privately from the coming school year, it said. The bureau said four schools would gradually wind down operations or at the latest end their services by the 2029-30 academic year, and nine had applied to merge with other institutions. But one of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348713/4-hong-kong-schools-close-9-seek-mergers-over-insufficient-enrolment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348713/4-hong-kong-schools-close-9-seek-mergers-over-insufficient-enrolment?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:00:19 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu A US church that co-founded a prestigious Hong Kong international school has said it will take the lead in searching for a new head as the operator had failed to nominate candidates since 2022, accusing it of creating the “risk of leadership interruption” in the latest salvo in a war of words. The move by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) was revealed in a letter to parents on Sunday from Hong Kong International School (HKIS) management, which called the search part of church actions... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348702/us-church-launches-search-new-hkis-school-head-amid-legal-row-operator?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348702/us-church-launches-search-new-hkis-school-head-amid-legal-row-operator?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:10:49 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The head of Hong Kong’s largest teacher training institution has urged all school governing bodies in the city to find a “way out” to handle dwindling student numbers. Professor John Lee Chi-kin, president of the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), also said on Monday that schools should develop their own features and strengths, stressing that teacher training should not be ignored despite the falling numbers. His remarks follow an announcement by education authorities two weeks ago that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348430/hong-kong-schools-urged-find-way-out-over-falling-student-numbers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348430/hong-kong-schools-urged-find-way-out-over-falling-student-numbers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:18:42 +0000 Letters Letters 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 The Mental Health Association of Hong Kong (MAIHK) and Chinese University of Hong Kong’s (CUHK) latest survey is a wake-up call: 43.5 per cent of Gen Z respondents reported moderate to severe depression. Researchers also found a positive correlation between screen time and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3348107/start-early-connect-deeply-addressing-gen-zs-mental-health-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3348107/start-early-connect-deeply-addressing-gen-zs-mental-health-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 29 Mar 2026 03:30:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Some local universities have been consistently rated as among the world’s best, as reflected in the latest global rankings by British firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). While the city is justifiably proud of its achievements, there is no room for complacency amid growing competition in the education sector worldwide. It is encouraging that five subjects offered by local institutions are among the top 10 in the world. The University of Hong Kong’s dentistry programme remains the city’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348129/hong-kong-remains-one-asias-most-competitive-higher-education-systems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348129/hong-kong-remains-one-asias-most-competitive-higher-education-systems?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 23:15:17 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial There is a growing need to address the lack of regular exercise among Hong Kong students. Turning back the clock to more physically active childhoods is not an option. Without action at home and school to maintain physical activity amid a digital lifestyle, today’s schoolchildren face a greater risk – and an earlier onset – of ill health. A government report for the 2024-25 school year says about 94 per cent of students do not get enough moderate to vigorous exercise, recommended for at least an... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348097/ounce-obesity-prevention-worth-kilo-cure-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348097/ounce-obesity-prevention-worth-kilo-cure-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s Baptist University plans to spin off its School of Continuing Education (SCE) as a private university of applied sciences (UAS) next year, according to its president. Unveiling the plan at a media briefing on Thursday, Professor Alexander Wai Ping-kong said a private institution would be more agile and responsive to societal changes than public universities, which often face lengthy funding approvals. “HKBU [Hong Kong Baptist University] will spare no effort to ensure the success of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347998/hong-kong-baptist-university-turn-one-its-schools-private?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347998/hong-kong-baptist-university-turn-one-its-schools-private?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:40:44 +0000 Letters Letters 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 Hong Kong’s low birth rate has shrunk the number of children attending school, burdening school budgets and threatening pupils’ learning. We must swiftly reform our schools for a brighter educational and economic future. Since 2012, Hong Kong’s crude birth rate has fallen most... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347817/hong-kongs-low-birth-rate-calls-swift-thoughtful-school-restructuring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347817/hong-kongs-low-birth-rate-calls-swift-thoughtful-school-restructuring?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 03:30:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Boosting Hong Kong into a global study and talent hub is not just a mission for the government and the tertiary education sector. The latest move by local secondary schools to lure overseas students in Southeast Asia is a proactive step in this regard. While the city is still learning how to emulate British or US education systems to attract overseas students, it stands out in the region thanks to its unique East-meets-West background, international outlook, political stability and proximity to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347809/local-schools-outreach-overseas-students-boost-education-hub-goal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347809/local-schools-outreach-overseas-students-boost-education-hub-goal?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 23:15:11 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s universities have recorded their sharpest declines in three years in global subject rankings, with more than half of the 266 offerings – including data science and artificial intelligence (AI) – slipping down their respective tables, according to a UK-based education analyst. Despite the overall drop, dentistry at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) remained second in the world – the city’s highest-ranked subject – while performing arts at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347882/data-science-ai-slip-53-hong-kong-university-subjects-fall-qs-ranking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347882/data-science-ai-slip-53-hong-kong-university-subjects-fall-qs-ranking?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:06:25 +0000 Rina Lai Rina Lai For most of my career in developmental and educational psychology, I have been guided by a single question: what do children truly need to flourish in the world they are entering? I don’t mean the world their parents inherited or the one textbooks were designed for, but the one unfolding – volatile, technology-saturated and deeply uncertain. Eight years ago, during my PhD studies at the University of Cambridge, I was certain I was close to finding the answer; I immersed myself in building... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347072/case-spiritual-wellness-age-anxious-youth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347072/case-spiritual-wellness-age-anxious-youth?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +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 William Yiu William Yiu Non-local students could pay up to HK$350,000 (US$44,680) per year to study in Hong Kong’s semi-private schools after the institutions were allowed to admit them by offering additional places, with scholarships to cover some expenses. But an education consultant specialising in expatriate placements for Hong Kong schools said the charges were uncompetitive, noting the cost exceeded those of a premium British boarding school in Malaysia and Thailand. The Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS)... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347630/non-local-pupils-could-face-hk350000-fees-hong-kong-semi-private-schools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347630/non-local-pupils-could-face-hk350000-fees-hong-kong-semi-private-schools?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:37:02 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s shrinking school-age population continues to put the education system to the test, with more subsidised institutions facing the axe or being forced to go private or merge with others. The closure option, once regarded as a last resort, is fast becoming an inevitable fate rather than an exception. A smooth transition, or a “soft landing”, looks increasingly difficult as more schools find themselves on the brink amid intensifying consolidation spurred by the city’s declining birth... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347303/struggling-hong-kong-schools-should-heed-call-plan-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3347303/struggling-hong-kong-schools-should-heed-call-plan-ahead?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 22:45:13 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu “What if?” and “but why?” are questions I’ve been bombarded with by young schoolchildren. I’m often stumped, but I’ve learned to avoid giving the “worst” answer possible – “that’s the way it is” – because who’s to say things can’t change. Children’s ability to challenge the status quo, questioning norms and authority, forces us to re-examine our assumptions on why things must be the way they are. Adults are often too impatient to experiment with the alternative. We rush through our to-do lists... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347350/hong-kongs-education-policy-must-reflect-innovative-future-it-seeks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347350/hong-kongs-education-policy-must-reflect-innovative-future-it-seeks?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 08:30:09 +0000 Sumnima Kandangwa Sumnima Kandangwa On World Obesity Day, March 4, Hong Kong launched its first three-year action plan on weight management targeting rising obesity rates. Citing a Report of Population Health Survey 2020–22 conducted by the Department of Health, the government noted that over 50 per cent of Hong Kong’s adult population is overweight or obese based on their Body Mass Index. “It’s heartening to see the government taking steps to build a healthy community that promotes nutrition education and regular exercise,” said... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3347273/hong-kong-governments-plan-answer-obesity-or-eating-disorder-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3347273/hong-kong-governments-plan-answer-obesity-or-eating-disorder-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:15:12 +0000 William Yiu,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen William Yiu,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s Baptist University placed a big bet when it told the government in 2023 that it was interested in moving its campus from the upmarket Kowloon Tong residential area to a proposed new academic town near the mainland Chinese border. The 70-year-old university’s move to the Northern Metropolis megaproject will mean giving up a prime site for a spot where most of the land has yet to be prepared for construction, although its proximity to mainland tech hub Shenzhen and the Lok Ma Chau... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347197/too-slow-hong-kongs-new-university-town-faces-questions-over-plans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347197/too-slow-hong-kongs-new-university-town-faces-questions-over-plans?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:30:07 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s education authorities plan to establish an “internationally benchmarked” version of the city’s university entrance exam on a pilot basis to allow foreign students to apply for admission to higher education institutions both locally and in mainland China. They revealed that technical explorations and studies with relevant bodies on developing the international version of the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam were under way. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347067/hong-kong-establish-global-version-university-entrance-exam-pilot-basis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347067/hong-kong-establish-global-version-university-entrance-exam-pilot-basis?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:47:51 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu’s alma mater was already struggling with major weaknesses that hurt enrolment, such as a small, remote campus and poor sanitation in the surrounding area, before the school was prevented from running a subsidised Primary One class. The Five Districts Business Welfare Association School, which has operated for 69 years, was among the 15 schools that failed to secure 16 Primary One pupils each to qualify for subsidies for the coming academic year. Fourteen of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346976/closing-struggling-hong-kong-schools-spares-parents-future-problems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346976/closing-struggling-hong-kong-schools-spares-parents-future-problems?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 05:19:05 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Fifteen Hong Kong public primary schools are at risk of closing after being banned from operating subsidised Primary One classes in the coming academic year due to insufficient enrolment, with authorities saying the figure is the highest in recent years. But Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin also warned on Tuesday that more closures were expected if school operators refused to plan for mergers. The institutions at risk comprise one government and 14 subsidised schools, with Deputy... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346926/15-hong-kong-schools-risk-closure-falling-numbers-trigger-primary-one-ban?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346926/15-hong-kong-schools-risk-closure-falling-numbers-trigger-primary-one-ban?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:10:34 +0000 Letters Letters 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 The Hong Kong Initiative for Diversity recently hosted a forum, “Building Bridges: Challenges and Solutions for Nepali Residents in Hong Kong”, bringing together educators, academics, entrepreneurs, Nepali community members and local Chinese residents for an honest discussion... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3346740/how-hong-kong-can-better-support-its-nepali-youth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3346740/how-hong-kong-can-better-support-its-nepali-youth?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Cat Nelson Cat Nelson In the early 1980s, coral carpeted the seabed under the Tolo Harbour in northeastern Hong Kong. Coverage reached as high as 70 to 80 per cent in some areas, comparable to what scientists now see in the city’s marine parks. Within a few years, almost all of it was gone. “Not a lot of people actually know about this,” says Dr Apple Chui Pui-yi, assistant professor in the School of Life Sciences at Chinese University. As nearby towns such as Sha Tin and Tai Po developed, pollution and sewage... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3346172/hong-kong-scientist-trying-revive-citys-coral-reefs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3346172/hong-kong-scientist-trying-revive-citys-coral-reefs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Ambrose Li,William Yiu Ambrose Li,William Yiu Hong Kong’s physiotherapy sector has urged the government to expand employment opportunities for locally trained professionals, warning that severe funding cuts will lead to a glut of practitioners, with the surplus projected to exceed 2,000 by 2040. In a letter to the authorities, the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association pointed to hiring freezes and job losses at NGOs as a result of budget cuts, even as the government continued to subsidise the training of physiotherapists. “These developments... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346549/funding-cuts-trigger-calls-help-jobs-hong-kongs-physiotherapists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346549/funding-cuts-trigger-calls-help-jobs-hong-kongs-physiotherapists?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:20:07 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The head of Hong Kong’s oldest university has vowed to inject more resources into humanities programmes, praising them as a source of creativity and imagination, even as some institutions outside the city cut courses amid the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Professor Xiang Zhang, president of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), made the pledge on Wednesday as the head of the institution’s medical faculty revealed the school would ditch its target for 75 per cent of its intake to be... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346266/hong-kong-university-president-vows-boost-humanities-amid-ai-push-elsewhere?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346266/hong-kong-university-president-vows-boost-humanities-amid-ai-push-elsewhere?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:42:52 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong is well served by its two traditional medical schools. A third school taking shape at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology will add an innovative dimension to healthcare as well as a welcome boost to the supply of doctors. An emphasis on biotechnology and research, and the school’s ultimate location in the Northern Metropolis, near the Shenzhen tech hub, will foster partnerships and collaboration with the rest of the Greater Bay Area. The first intake of 50 students at... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345719/medical-schools-biotech-focus-will-boost-hong-kongs-innovation-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345719/medical-schools-biotech-focus-will-boost-hong-kongs-innovation-push?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 22:45:14 +0000 Mike Rowse Mike Rowse I am not sure everyone in Hong Kong has taken fully on board the breadth and depth of the city’s intended role in the future economic development of the nation. It is right there in the budget speech delivered by Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, and it is being fleshed out in the 15th five-year plan now under discussion in Beijing. Sometimes the things that are presented most prominently are the ones most easily overlooked. In an early part of the speech, Chan stated that the government’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3345672/hong-kong-doubles-down-innovation-hongkongers-must-too?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3345672/hong-kong-doubles-down-innovation-hongkongers-must-too?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 08:30:08 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong The Hong Kong government has won an appeal against a court ruling that found a veteran teacher’s dismissal for anti-police remarks was unlawful. The Court of Appeal on Friday ruled that the secretary for the civil service was entitled to sack 27-year veteran Toffee Tam Yuk-fun and strip her of all retirement benefits for serious misconduct during the 2019 anti-government protests. Tam, who taught at the Jockey Club Government Secondary School in Kowloon Tong, previously won a judicial review... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345753/sacking-teacher-anti-police-remarks-reasonable-appeal-court-rules?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3345753/sacking-teacher-anti-police-remarks-reasonable-appeal-court-rules?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 11:45:48 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Tung Wah College, a tertiary institution in Hong Kong known for its nursing care and allied health programmes, will undergo a combined review next month on its application to become both a private university and a university of applied sciences (UAS) and is “very confident”, its head has said. Professor Sally Chan Wai-chi, president of the 16-year-old Ho Man Tin-based college, said on Thursday that it planned to adopt the name “Tung Wah University of Hong Kong” if its application was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345609/tung-wah-college-undergo-review-april-bid-gain-university-status?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345609/tung-wah-college-undergo-review-april-bid-gain-university-status?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:53:24 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong Baptist University is “actively considering” issuing bonds to finance its future development, including campus redevelopment and its new Chinese medicine hospital, according to its president. But Professor Alexander Wai Ping-kong also told the South China Morning Post on Thursday that the public institution would be cautious with bond issuance to avoid creating pressure on future management. “Our university needs funding in many aspects, such as our Chinese medicine hospital and the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345579/hong-kong-baptist-university-may-issue-bonds-finance-development?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345579/hong-kong-baptist-university-may-issue-bonds-finance-development?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:07:34 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Study and travel are both powerful ways to expand minds and shape lives. The double benefits have certainly enhanced learning opportunities for students from outside Hong Kong who attend local universities. It is good to see their ranks growing as recruitment efforts gather pace in a process that raises the bar for the city’s academic community. The city’s student outreach has been in the spotlight during “Study in Hong Kong Week”, which started on February 23. The city’s education minister... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345109/outreach-foreign-students-cements-hong-kongs-education-hub-status?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345109/outreach-foreign-students-cements-hong-kongs-education-hub-status?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu About 20 per cent of the 50 places in the inaugural intake of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s (HKUST) new graduate medical school in 2028-29 may be reserved for non-local students, with most expected to come from mainland China, according to the institution. Applicants for the four-year graduate entry-level medicine programme must pass an international admission test, with the university preferring those with a background in biotechnology. According to HKUST, the tuition fee... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345170/hkust-may-reserve-20-new-medical-school-inaugural-intake-non-locals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345170/hkust-may-reserve-20-new-medical-school-inaugural-intake-non-locals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:33:23 +0000 Erica Fong Erica Fong From the classroom to the parent-teacher meeting, when it comes to achievement, one question persists: is a child’s potential written in their genes, or can it be boosted by education? The debate around nature versus nurture is especially pertinent in the context of Hong Kong’s high-stakes academic milieu – one in which students may find themselves on a predetermined track in science or the arts, regardless of their own preferences or natural talents. Experts agree that a child’s potential is... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3345153/nature-versus-nurture-unlocking-potential-hong-kongs-children?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3345153/nature-versus-nurture-unlocking-potential-hong-kongs-children?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:56:50 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Hong Kong hit a record low in births last year despite a range of government incentives, including a HK$20,000 (US$2,560) baby cash bonus for new parents launched in 2023. Just 31,714 babies were born last year. This might have come as a surprise for the authorities, which had projected a rise to 39,000 births. So was the baby bonus worth the try? Yes, if we can draw insight from the experience. To be fair, it wasn’t the only thing the government had done to encourage babies. It rolled out tax... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344937/hong-kong-cant-raise-its-birth-rate-without-easing-education-stress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344937/hong-kong-cant-raise-its-birth-rate-without-easing-education-stress?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu At least five Hong Kong universities have backed the government’s proposal to launch study tours aimed at attracting non-local secondary students to pursue higher education in the city, with programmes featuring topics such as AI. The University of Hong Kong (HKU), the city’s oldest tertiary institution, said it would offer up to 35 programmes this summer, giving outstanding non-local students a chance to earn full scholarships. In this year’s government budget, education authorities said they... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344975/hong-kong-universities-back-ai-themed-study-tours-woo-non-local-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344975/hong-kong-universities-back-ai-themed-study-tours-woo-non-local-students?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 04:00:41 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong authorities have defended a controversial subsidy cut for the kindergarten sector for the coming financial year, saying the low birth rate and resultant shrinking pupil population have prompted a reassessment of education policy priorities. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said on Friday that the government would channel more resources towards promoting “high-quality education” and adopt a more targeted approach to helping pupils in need. According to the 2026-27 budget,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344918/hong-kong-budget-2026-27-minister-defends-cuts-kindergarten-subsidy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344918/hong-kong-budget-2026-27-minister-defends-cuts-kindergarten-subsidy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:04:20 +0000 Letters Letters 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 The medium of instruction in secondary schools can be controversial, as it affects stakeholders including students, teachers and school administrators. At stake is not only the quality of education but also schools’ status, student intake and survival. As a gateway city between... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3344662/3-factors-weigh-letting-more-hong-kong-schools-teach-english?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3344662/3-factors-weigh-letting-more-hong-kong-schools-teach-english?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 03:30:11 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s early childhood education sector will receive its lowest level of subsidy in more than a decade as the number of preschools falls to a 13-year low, with the government cancelling two grants for kindergartens in the new school year. According to the annual budget announced on Wednesday, the early childhood sector will receive only HK$4.5 billion (US$575 million) from the government in the 2026–27 financial year, representing a 6.6 per cent drop from the current year. “This is mainly... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344697/worst-yet-come-hong-kongs-early-childhood-sector-hit-hard-funding-cuts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344697/worst-yet-come-hong-kongs-early-childhood-sector-hit-hard-funding-cuts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 05:51:23 +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 Christine Choi Christine Choi This week, Hong Kong is honoured to play host to the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference and Exhibition, one of the most significant gatherings in the global higher education arena. For us, this is not merely a conference; it is a homecoming for international collaboration and a resounding statement of intent. As delegates from across the globe arrive in our city, we are reminded that education knows no borders, and Hong Kong remains the pivotal bridge... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344080/bridging-east-and-west-hong-kong-offers-talent-best-both-worlds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344080/bridging-east-and-west-hong-kong-offers-talent-best-both-worlds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 01:30:08 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong must more than double the number of secondary school pupils studying advanced maths to ensure a sufficient pipeline of students pursuing science and technology courses at university and careers in those sectors, according to the head of a curriculum review. The government plans to review the admission score calculations for some of the universities’ science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) programmes, as well as revamp the combination of related elective subjects... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344259/more-advanced-maths-students-needed-science-tech-sectors-hong-kong-committee-head?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344259/more-advanced-maths-students-needed-science-tech-sectors-hong-kong-committee-head?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 12:30:17 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong Two Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) graduates have lost a judicial challenge against their disqualifications from an election for the institution’s advisory body, after their pro-independence views or convictions arising from the 2019 anti-government protests were cited as grounds for barring them. Walter Tse Wai-lok and Anthony Suen Ho-yin jointly applied for judicial review in November 2023, saying the university deprived them of a chance to be heard before disqualifying them from... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344171/cuhk-alumni-lose-legal-bid-overturn-election-ban-over-scandalous-conduct?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3344171/cuhk-alumni-lose-legal-bid-overturn-election-ban-over-scandalous-conduct?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:44:44 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A Hong Kong court has ordered the liquidation of a scandal-plagued Christian charity for failing to repay HK$61 million (US$7.8 million) granted by the government to renovate a defunct boarding school for drug addicts. In a written judgment on Monday, the High Court granted the Department of Justice’s petition to wind up the Christian Zheng Sheng Association over the debts arising from a material change in board leadership after a high-profile fraud case came to light in 2024. The association is... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343727/hong-kong-court-orders-scandal-hit-christian-zheng-sheng-association-be-liquidated?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3343727/hong-kong-court-orders-scandal-hit-christian-zheng-sheng-association-be-liquidated?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 07:58:38 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen A group of scholars, professionals and former government officials has formed a new think tank in Hong Kong that aims to fill what it calls a talent gap in the shrinking field of local studies. The newly established Hong Kong Future Economy Institute also pledged to conduct studies on housing planning, population policy and impact assessments of policymaking. Michael Bolin Wong, founding director of the institute and an assistant professor at the University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) business school,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343631/new-think-tank-launched-bridge-talent-gap-hong-kong-studies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3343631/new-think-tank-launched-bridge-talent-gap-hong-kong-studies?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Feb 2026 23:00:12 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong public universities had more than 20,000 non-local undergraduate students in the second academic year since the government doubled quotas, a 17 per cent year-on-year increase, as the education minister promised to review the threshold. The Education University of Hong Kong (EdU) saw the sharpest increase in non-local undergraduate students under the policy, jumping by 90 per cent over three academic years, followed by Baptist University. Starting in the 2024-25 academic year, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3343576/how-many-non-local-students-are-going-hong-kong-universities-quota-rise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3343576/how-many-non-local-students-are-going-hong-kong-universities-quota-rise?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 08:01:59 +0000 William Yiu,Kelly Fung William Yiu,Kelly Fung Suri Chan Tin-wing, a first-year English major at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, found herself struggling to write her first creative short story – a 300-word assignment for the compulsory course “Introduction to Literature”. Throughout her secondary schooling at Yan Chai Hospital Law Chan Chor Si College in Kowloon Bay, only science subjects, such as maths and biology, were taught in English as the school adopted Chinese as the medium of instruction (CMI). Chan, 19, felt that she lacked... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3343539/will-allowing-more-hong-kong-schools-teach-english-be-too-testing-pupils?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3343539/will-allowing-more-hong-kong-schools-teach-english-be-too-testing-pupils?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 01:00:17 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu A Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) student arrested on suspicion of sedition after launching a petition calling for an independent committee to investigate the Tai Po fire has said he has been expelled. “I was just expelled by CUHK,” Miles Kwan Ching-fung wrote on social media at midnight on Thursday, ending his post with a thumbs-up emoji. He said he had been suspended twice and had studied only intermittently over the past six years. Kwan, 24, told the South China Morning Post on Friday... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3343455/chinese-university-hong-kong-expels-student-held-sedition-over-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3343455/chinese-university-hong-kong-expels-student-held-sedition-over-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 07:45:32 +0000 Salomé Grouard Salomé Grouard Hong Kong’s education system is famously unforgiving. From cutthroat kindergarten admissions to hours of nightly homework and an average of five hours of private tutoring a week, children face tremendous pressure to perform in the world’s third most competitive economy. In such an environment, arts education rarely makes the cut – often dismissed as a luxury rather than a path to success. “Growing up, I had so many talented friends who gave up on art as they went through school,” says... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3343401/how-hong-kong-schools-and-artists-offgodtate-are-nurturing-creativity-ai-era?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3343401/how-hong-kong-schools-and-artists-offgodtate-are-nurturing-creativity-ai-era?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 07:00:10 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong is considering letting more junior secondary school pupils use English as their medium of instruction (MOI), with the education minister pointing to an improved learning environment, better qualified teachers and other developments in the sector. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin also said on Thursday that publicly funded primary and secondary schools could expect more cuts in resources in the coming two years as the government tightened its belt further. The existing MOI... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3343371/hong-kong-may-allow-more-pupils-use-english-lessons-education-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3343371/hong-kong-may-allow-more-pupils-use-english-lessons-education-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:04:54 +0000