School Closure | Cai Ruolian: Considering Facilitating the Merger and Upgrading of Strong and Weak Primary Schools

Next school year, 15 subsidized primary schools will be assigned “0” classes. Education Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor stated that she is considering new measures to promote the merger and “upgrading” of schools with different strengths.

Carrie Lam mentioned on the TV program “Clear and Straightforward” that she has already implemented many “soft landing” measures. She believes that it is healthy for some schools to close and new schools to open. “Moreover, if we say we want to attract non-local students, what do we have to compete with others? If the school system isn’t competitive.” Over the past 10 years, the school-age population has continuously declined, decreasing by about 60,000 to 70,000 people, yet only two primary schools have closed in this period.

The authorities say that the 15 primary schools assigned “0” classes can choose to merge with other schools, but most are “single-headed” schools without supporting organizations. Carrie Lam pointed out that such mergers have been more difficult in the past, and they are now thinking of new methods to attract “large schools” to merge with them, emphasizing that the government encourages mergers for “upgrading,” not just saving schools.

Regarding whether the minimum class size for Primary 1 will be increased to at least 16 students, she said that while the government aims to develop higher quality education, she understands that the process cannot be too rapid. At least for this term, the government will not increase the class size.

As for whether subsidized primary schools will be allowed to admit more non-local students, Carrie Lam said that if suddenly a large number of non-local students want to come to Hong Kong, the government can reconsider, allowing subsidized schools to participate in some way, or at what stage and how they can participate. But at this stage, it is still too early to say.