The Hong Kong government’s Education Bureau recently submitted a written response to the city legislature’s Legislative Council, disclosing the number of students in each district and each grade of primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong in the 2020/2021 school year. The statistics showed a loss of more than 14,000 enrolled students in government subsidized schools as compared to the previous school year, a record high for the past five years.
In primary schools, there was a loss of 4,900 students, a 22-fold increase over the 200-odd dropouts in the 2019/2020 school year. In secondary schools, there were usually a few thousand dropouts every year, but the number of students enrolled this year saw a loss of nearly 9,200 students, more serious than last year.
According to Cheung Yung Pong, the honorary chairman of the Aided Primary School Heads Association in Hong Kong, parents, regardless of their political background, are concerned about the changes in the social and political environment and in the education reform in Hong Kong over the past two years. They have lost confidence in the future of Hong Kong. “Those who can afford to leave will do so and those who do not leave for the time being will also transfer their children to international schools to prepare for emigration.” Cheung believes that the government and the Legislative Council are about to change, setting off waves of repercussions. This year’s dropouts have not topped off, and the situation may be worse next year.
Source: Sing Tao Daily, April 15, 2021
https://std.stheadline.com/daily/article/2349887