DEMAND FOR SCHOOL PLACES
Richard Gaskell, director for international schools at ISC Research, part of the International School Consultancy, explains the challenge Hong Kong is facing. “The number of English-medium international schools has risen from 92 in the year 2000 to a total of 177 today. However, the number of students has more than doubled, from 34,200 to well over 81,000.
“Increasing demand for school places is coming from local wealthy families who want an English-medium international- school education for their children. School fees are affordable for a significant number of them. Combined with already-high demand from expatriate families, most schools in Hong Kong are operating at, or close to, full capacity, and there are long waiting lists at virtually all of the leading schools.” The executive officer of the Association of China and
Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS), which has several members in Hong Kong, agrees. “Demand for space in international schools is indeed a problem. Due to population saturation in the residential areas most desired by foreigners, and lack of land for expansion, most established schools have space limitations and tend to fill quickly in the early spring from waiting lists.
“Places for secondary-grade levels are somewhat easier to obtain than places in early-childhood or primary sections. Newcomers should be prepared to apply early and to several different schools. Mid-year admissions are quite limited.”
CHANGE UNDERWAY
The expansion and development of international schools in Hong Kong is controlled by a government tender process
that, in May 2015, awarded sites, mostly in outlying areas, to five operators:
1. American School Hong Kong, an ESOL Education school, opened for kindergarten to Grade 6 in August 2016, and will add a middle school in 2017 and a high school in 2018 at its Tai Po campus.
2. Shrewsbury International School will build a new school in Tseung Kwan O, to open in 2018.
3. Lycée Français International de Hong Kong will open an international stream for reception to Year 5 and a French stream for reception to Year 10 at its Tseung Kwan O campus in 2018.
4. Malvern College will open in September 2018 near the Science Park in the New Territories.
5. Harbour School moved to a new campus in Ap Lei Chau in late 2016.
These initiatives will create 3,490 more primary places and 780 more secondary places. All the schools have committed 80 per cent or more places for expatriate students. “The government supports the development of a vibrant international-school sector in Hong Kong, mainly to meet the demand for school places from overseas families living in Hong Kong and families coming to Hong Kong for work or investment,” said Hong Kong’s Secretary for Education, Eddie Ng.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Some existing schools have expanded. These include the International Montessori School network in Hong Kong,
Above: Yew Chung International School 100 |
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