Local School User

[Roger]

My son attends the Pentecostal Yu Leung Fat Primary School in Fanling, which is a local Cantonese medium school. We decided on this for several reasons: 1. We think that it's vital that he should be able to communicate in the local language, which many locally born expat kids are unable to do (still!) and that he should be able to read and write in Chinese. 2. There are NO tuition fees (there is a nominal aircon fee of $300 pa, plus you have to buy the books and uniform). 3. Being trilingual, he will be equipped to live both locally and elsewhere.
Do I have issues with the local system? Sometimes yes, as teachers sometimes need to learn how to think outside the box, and the homework load can be heavy. However, there are very few bullying problems (unlike when I went to school in the UK), the teachers are really dedicated, and the school atmosphere is great. This Friday, I'll be learning how to navigate the application process for secondary school. So I'll come back with some details.

 

[testuser]

Hi Roger,

We do intend to bring in forums for local schools. Have started with the international schools, as that is where we have the best exposure and knowledge.

It is important that the EMI / DSS schools get forums, but it will take us 4-8 weeks to get our act together and figure out what we need to do to promote and run these forums.

Thanks for your support.

 

[loupou]

Roger,

Do you or your partner read & write Chinese well or speak Cantonese? My experience sending my eldest to a local Cantonese primary school was made very difficult by the fact that my own Chinese reading level is about P3 and my writing even worse, and that I do not speak Cantonese very well.

 

[Roger]

My wife is a native Mandarin speaker who doesn't speak English and my Cantonese is OK (my Mandarin is fluent and I do read & write Chinese also). However, most of the teachers speak English and the ones that don't speak Mandarin. Also, there was a non-Chinese speaking couple who sent their child there and the school was very supportive by helping them to understand the notices.

 

[Aava.Wong]

i'd like my kid to go to a local school too but being non-chinese parents, i think that we will not be able to help him with his homework etc. i'm looking into sun island kindergarten in kennedy town as i notice many non-chinese kids are going there.

any other good local schools with EMI on hk island (most preferably central & western district).

also feedback from non-chinese parents about their kid's experience in local schools would be appreciated.

 

[Roger]

I am actually non-Chinese, but my wife is from the Mainland (simplified, not traditional characters and Mandarin speaking: my son's school is Cantonese medium) Homework support is an issue for non-Chinese speakers. Some parents will use outside tutors to help with this, but the EDB apparently gives extra funds to the schools to assist in this area. The EDB can assist in placing NCS children and have a list of "designated" schools, which have a higher proportion of NCS students, on their website.