ESF Concerned Parents - Survey and new websites

[howardcoombs]

Chinese Medium instruction is not for everyone and I'm certainly not advocating that most parents go with it. However, if you are here for the long term then why not? Give your kids an extra language and the ability to take advantage of all the different opportunities on offer in this fine city.

I cant speak for India as I have no experience there, but I do know that in USA, Canada and UK, the govt schools have to accept you (infact the schools have many Chinese native students). Furthermore, the curriculum offered in Hong Kong (for core subjects) is far ahead of the curriculum on offer in US/Canada/UK with a few exceptions for local subjects (eg : Canadian history).

But to come back to the topic at hand, my assertion is that ESF is not the only choice in town for an English speaking family. Parents should look at many alternatives available out there.

HC

 

[testuser]

HC - Ok, name a few of those alternatives? If you look at the lists closely an overwhelming number of the schools are CMI.

The few EMI govt subsidized schools that I spotted are in some very awkward locations.

I should post another topic about this ...

 

[howardcoombs]

I see you have a new thread and I have put a few examples in there. What I put there is just schools that I personally visited but there are many many more in all kinds of locations. The population is overwhelmingly Chinese but there are a few visible minorities in there as well.

HC

 

[Freetrader]

Howard,

I am an ESF parent and I actually agree with you. There was a good editorial in Sunday's SCMP about the inanity of ESF parents pushing for more subsidy from the government of the HKSAR. It basically comes down to a philisophy that if one wishes to live in Hong Kong, choosing an English-language school is a choice, not a necessity.

I think it is a question of priorities for the government - do they want a 'semi-public' English-instruction system to coexist with the current Cantonese schools? There are certainly good arguments to be made for it - having inexpensive English-language education available presumably makes it easier to attract English-speaking talent from around the world and (presumably) enchances HK's status as a "world city". But there are of course many other ways for the government to spend its money, and the funding for the ESF schools - which is paid for by all taxpayers, I assume - must be weighed against other government priorities.

I sympathize with any parent trying to afford an English-language school, but I certainly understand what you mean when you speak of a sense of entitlement - there is no human right for an Englilsh education in a Chinese territory. It may simple be a question of whether the government wishes to 'nuture' a long term group of English speakers in its territory. Rich expats will always have the private schools; whether government money should be spent on maintaining English schools for middle-class to wealthy locals and expats is a question only the government can answer.

 

[loupou]

Maybe ESF schools should go over to DSS like all those other semi-public EMI schools (DGS, DBS, St. Paul's Co-Ed, etc.)

 

[charade]

Howard, although there are non-esf options they still aren't many and the competition for them seems fierce. It also seems like a large number of local parents not just expats want thier kids to study in english medium, and they too are clamouring for esf (I work in a all-Chinese office which is where I get this impression). If a large number of people sending their kids to ESF decided to send their kids to the emi govt schools, there would be a huge waitlist, if there isn't already. My understanding is that for many of the prestigious emi schools competition is fiercer than international. So ESF is serving a function beyond catering to wealthy, entitled expats. The government policy seemed to be based on a cantonese medium of instruction is best mindset but not sure all locals even agree with this, seeing as so many of them want their kids in emi schools if possible. So the government does have to rethink its funding policy and how to provide more emi places - whether through thier own schools (which might mean founding more local schools from scratch) or supporting esf.