Deep Dive: Hong Kong's Education Bureau cuts subsidised Primary One classes for two schools

South China Morning Post

06-04-2025

Deep Dive delves into hot issues in Hong Kong and mainland China. Our easy-to-read articles provide context to grasp what's happening, while our questions help you craft informed responses. Check sample answers at the end of the page.
News: Two Hong Kong schools won't run subsidised Primary One classes in 2025-26
Education Bureau will not allocate classes to schools with low student enrolment
Two Hong Kong schools in areas with declining school-age populations will not run any subsidised Primary One classes in the upcoming academic year.
Last month, the Education Bureau sent letters to all subsidised and government primary schools. The letters informed them about class structures and staffing arrangements for Primary One to Six over the next academic year.
Two schools, Aplichau Kaifong Primary School in Southern district and Price Memorial Catholic Primary School in Wong Tai Sin, were not allocated any subsidised Primary One classes for the 2025-26 academic year after failing to secure enough pupils.
Aplichau Kaifong Primary School was founded in 1954. It ran eight classes during the 2024-25 academic year, with one class each for Primary One to Four and another two each for Primary Five and Six.
Price Memorial Catholic Primary School, established in 1963, is currently operating 11 classes, including one each for Primary One to Three.
Under the current system, schools that fail to enrol enough Primary One students have three options.
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The first is to privately fund a class, the second involves applying to the government for a special review, and the third is to merge operations with another institution.
However, the bureau recently announced new rules restricting survival options for under-enrolled, government-funded schools.
Starting next year, any subsidised school that fails to meet its 16-child enrolment target will not be allowed to privately run a Primary One class if it has already done so in the past six years. In addition, schools can no longer apply for a special review to run a Primary One class.
The bureau will also require schools that privately fund a batch of pupils to continue doing so until the children finish Primary Six.
Currently, students who were initially privately funded can receive subsidies once they reach more senior grades. However, this was under the condition that the school met its enrolment target for Primary One the subsequent year.
The school sector had estimated it would cost around HK$12 million (US$1.5 million) to operate one class per grade for six years.
Hong Kong's low birth rate has put many schools at risk of closing. Education authorities have reported that the number of Primary One pupils in the city was expected to drop from 48,600 this year to 37,500 in 2031.
Staff writers
Question prompts
1. According to News, which of the following are true?
(1) The number of Primary One students in Hong Kong is expected to drop.
(2) Schools with low enrolment can apply for a special review under the new rules.
(3) It costs a lot of money for schools to run private Primary One classes.
(4) Many schools have seen an increase in student enrolment.
A. (1), (2) only
B. (1), (3) only
C. (2), (3) only
D. (3), (4) only
2. Using News, list TWO key changes the government has announced for self-financed Primary One classes.
3. Do you agree with the education authorities' move to cut subsidised Primary One classes for schools with low enrolment? Explain using News, Glossary and your own knowledge.
Photo
Aplichau Kaifong Primary School in Southern district. Photo: Handout
Question prompts
1. Why is this school in the news? What challenge is it currently facing?
2. What measures could the school take to address these challenges? Explain using News and your own knowledge.
Issue: Schools with low Primary One enrolment consider survival options
Two public schools explore merging, operating privately to deal with low student numbers
Education authorities have welcomed the merger option, saying they would offer funding to cover expenses
Two Hong Kong public schools with insufficient enrolment numbers are exploring their options, hoping to continue running Primary One classes by operating on a private basis or merging with another institution amid the city's shrinking student population.
Aplichau Kaifong Primary School in Southern district announced last month that its incorporated management committee, the institution's governing body, had decided to apply to the Education Bureau to operate Primary One classes in the coming academic year on a self-financed basis.
'Different stakeholders unanimously support the school to continue operating,' it announced on its website and social media platforms, without mentioning specific financial plans.
Meanwhile, in Wong Tai Sin, Price Memorial Catholic Primary School, sponsored by the Catholic diocese of Hong Kong, is planning to merge with another school in the same district under the diocese.
The diocese said that pupils in Price Memorial Catholic Primary School would attend the same school in the coming academic year. A merger would be arranged with the other institution for the following school year.
'Later, the school will have to submit a merger plan to the Education Bureau, and the merger of the schools can only be confirmed after the plan has been approved,' the diocese said.
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The bureau has promoted the merger option, saying it would offer up to HK$1 million (US$128,509) to schools that choose to do so to cover additional expenses.
Chim Hon-ming, chairman of the Hong Kong Island School Heads Association, said underperforming institutions should not delay shutting down by running private classes.
Chim, who is also a primary school principal, explained that it was better to close down since there wouldn't be enough students to justify the number of local primary schools.
Education sector lawmaker and fellow principal Chu Kwok-keung said new rules from the Education Bureau meant that schools that had successfully applied to operate private classes were more likely to shut down if they failed to secure enough pupils again.
Beginning next year, schools that privately fund a batch of Primary One pupils must continue doing so until the children finish Primary Six.
The extra financial burden of operating private classes would encourage schools to rethink their options, as they must bear the cost of running a class for six years instead of just one, Chu said.
Wong Tai Sin and Southern districts have some of the city's most rapidly ageing populations. The number of six-year-olds in Southern district fell from 1,500 last year to 1,400 this year. The population is expected to shrink further to only 900 in 2029.
Staff writers
Question prompts
1. List ONE way the Education Bureau will support schools that choose to merge.
2. Using Issue, explain how the demographic trends in Wong Tai Sin and Southern districts could impact schools in these areas.
3. To what extent do you agree with Chim that it would be better for schools struggling with student enrolment to close down? Explain using News, Issue, Glossary and your own knowledge.
Graphic
Illustration: SCMP Graphics
Question prompts
1. What is being shown in the graphic, and how does it relate to the information in News and Issue?
2. According to Issue, what measures can be taken to support primary schools in Hong Kong facing enrolment challenges?
Glossary
subsidised: partly paid for by the government or another organisation
merge: to combine or join together
birth rate: the number of individuals born in a population in a given amount of time. Hong Kong's birth rate has been declining for some time. Although the number of babies born in Hong Kong reached 36,700 in 2024 – an 11 per cent jump from 2023 – the figure is still the third-lowest since data was first made available in 1961.
unanimously: agreed upon or supported by everyone involved
diocese: the area under the control of a bishop, a high-ranking priest in the Christian church
Some areas of the city are seeing more dramatic demographic shifts than others. Photo: Shutterstock
Sample answers
News
1. B
2. Under the new rules, schools must fully fund these classes until the cohort graduates from Primary Six, even if they later meet the enrolment requirements. Additionally, schools that fail to enrol enough students for a subsidised Primary One class can no longer apply for a special review.
3. I partially agree with the new rules, as they reflect the reality of the declining school-age population and help allocate resources efficiently. However, removing the option for a special review and requiring schools to fully fund self-financed classes increases financial pressure, leading to more closures and fewer choices for parents. While the policy may be necessary, greater flexibility and support for affected schools would help minimise disruptions for students and families. (accept all reasonable answers)
Photo
1. The school has not been allocated any subsidised Primary One classes for the 2025-26 academic year due to low student enrolment. New rules from the Education Bureau say it cannot apply for a special review or switch to subsidised funding later, making it difficult to continue operating.
2. The school could consider merging with another institution. Additionally, policymakers could provide more flexibility in funding rules to support schools struggling with low enrolment.
Issue
1. The Education Bureau is offering up to HK$1 million to schools that opt for a merger, helping to cover additional expenses associated with the transition.
2. Demographic trends show a declining number of six-year-olds in these districts, further reducing potential enrolment. In Wong Tai Sin, the number of Primary One-age children dropped from 2,200 in 2024 to 1,900 in 2025, while Southern district's figures are expected to fall to just 900 by 2029. These factors make it increasingly difficult for small schools to remain open without financial support.
3. I partially agree with Chim's view that schools struggling with student intake may need to close down. The declining student population, especially in areas like Wong Tai Sin and Southern district, makes it difficult for schools to remain sustainable. However, schools like Aplichau Kaifong and Price Memorial Catholic Primary School are exploring alternatives like merging or running self-financed classes, which shows that closure isn't the only option. While continuing private classes can be financially burdensome, more support and flexibility could help struggling schools avoid closure and better adapt to demographic changes. (accept all reasonable answers)
Graphic
1. The single student in a dusty classroom represents the city's shrinking student population. It illustrates the information in the news and how Hong Kong is coping with a significant decline in the number of six-year-olds expected to enrol in Primary One in the coming years.
2. Measures could include offering financial support, such as the HK$1 million subsidy for schools opting to merge, providing more flexible funding options, and encouraging schools to collaborate or merge with other institutions to ensure their survival. Additionally, promoting community outreach to increase enrolment could also help.