SCMP: Shortage of International School places in Hong Kong
- Thread starter testuser
- Start date
Saw this in the paper as well. It's a very difficult situation, and I am not sure how to solve it in the short term. Because people know that's it's this bad, people apply to even more schools these days making the wait lists look even longer as they apply to a large number of schools. Happy to be sorted for my 3 kids, it must be so stressful!
It's not that easy to define a "local". Plus schools with high debentures are more than happy to have those cashed ... doesn't necessarily matter by who.
The big issue in ESF schools is that a lot of "local" families (Cantonese speakers but often other passport holders) are raising their children in English, unable to enter the "local" system.
The big issue in ESF schools is that a lot of "local" families (Cantonese speakers but often other passport holders) are raising their children in English, unable to enter the "local" system.
nicolejoy
Registered User
My husband was born here and raised in Australia. He doesn't speak in Chinese to our girls, and most of the time he regrets that as they are not bilingual at all. When it comes to ESF though, it is hugely advantageous that he hasn't taught them Chinese. They'd have a much smaller chance of getting in if they did know Chinese... it's really sad looking at it like that though!!
Louiseamanda
Registered User
I would like to know how many of these applicants are on multiple school waiting lists.
Do they cross-check any names, for example.
I know of parents who send off a bunch of applications all at once.
And are names 'erased' when the child gets a school place elsewhere. Are the lists regularly reviewed, cleaned up ?
I am sure some schools are sought-after, but I don't find these sort of statistics very helpful, to be honest.
And some schools can be accessed by money and some cannot (must pass entrance).
For the schools that test, we do not know the pass-rate. This prob varies according to schools need to fill the place and certain administrative /organisational factors.
Do they cross-check any names, for example.
I know of parents who send off a bunch of applications all at once.
And are names 'erased' when the child gets a school place elsewhere. Are the lists regularly reviewed, cleaned up ?
I am sure some schools are sought-after, but I don't find these sort of statistics very helpful, to be honest.
And some schools can be accessed by money and some cannot (must pass entrance).
For the schools that test, we do not know the pass-rate. This prob varies according to schools need to fill the place and certain administrative /organisational factors.
Louiseamanda
Registered User
Another factor is the number of families which may leave Hong Kong, at any time. This gives rise to extra places, during the school year.
Albeit not many places, but the school have no way of knowing this, since the families themselves only know this, often, at the last minute.
Repatriation, redundancies and transfers elsewhere in Asia etc
Albeit not many places, but the school have no way of knowing this, since the families themselves only know this, often, at the last minute.
Repatriation, redundancies and transfers elsewhere in Asia etc
In today's SCMP
Dec 5, 2011
AmCham warns of schools 'crisis'
Business group calls for a committee to be set up that would guarantee international education for children of foreign investors and professionals
Dennis Chong and Paggie Leung
Updated on Dec 05, 2011
The American Chamber of Commerce has warned the chief executive that Hong Kong's status as a world-class city is under threat because the shortage of international school places has reached a "crisis point".
In a paper submitted to Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's government, the business organisation said it wanted a permanent committee to be established to ensure schooling would be available for children of foreign investors and professionals.
"We feel that the situation is hitting a crisis point now," the paper said. "The government urgently needs to work with the private sector to set coherent and long-term, sustainable policies to support Hong Kong's education and talent development."
The chamber, or AmCham, released the paper - sent to the government in August - to the South China Morning Post last week.
AmCham said the new committee, staffed by schools, business chambers and the government, should support long-term planning, prevent future imbalances in school places and report directly to the chief executive.
The Chief Executive's Office declined to comment on the chamber's request. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Education Bureau said: "We have over the past few months engaged with chambers, the business community and international schools in addressing difficulties non-local families have encountered."
In recent months, British and Canadian chambers of commerce have warned that the shortage of school places could weaken Hong Kong's status as a financial hub. AmCham's paper says a majority of its members think the city has lost its appeal as a regional centre due to this problem, according to a survey. "We believe immediate action is required by the chief executive," the paper states.
It also cites a poll this year by a US relocation services firm which says Hong Kong is among the 20 locations that present the greatest challenges for human resources managers. Illinois-based Brookfield Global Relocation Services found that while the city is among the places where companies most often want to relocate employees, it also has one of the highest rates of "relocation failure", or when employees decline the move.
Firms in the survey said their top concerns were schooling, the cost of living, housing and problems with driving.
Last week, an Education Bureau spokeswoman said the city planned to further limit the number of local students who could attend international schools - to be built in future on government land - from 50 per cent to 30 per cent, giving more room for expats.
Education sector legislator Cheung Man-kwong also suggested the bureau should establish a committee to ensure foreign investors and expatriates could find school places for their children.
But some critics say drawing in foreign workers may depend on other factors.
Edmond So Wai-chung, general manager of Besteam Personnel Consultancy, said that while career prospects and good salaries are the top priorities for workers looking to move to Hong Kong, expats are deterred from the city by poor air quality, followed by lack of school spaces and high rents.
Dec 5, 2011
AmCham warns of schools 'crisis'
Business group calls for a committee to be set up that would guarantee international education for children of foreign investors and professionals
Dennis Chong and Paggie Leung
Updated on Dec 05, 2011
The American Chamber of Commerce has warned the chief executive that Hong Kong's status as a world-class city is under threat because the shortage of international school places has reached a "crisis point".
In a paper submitted to Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's government, the business organisation said it wanted a permanent committee to be established to ensure schooling would be available for children of foreign investors and professionals.
"We feel that the situation is hitting a crisis point now," the paper said. "The government urgently needs to work with the private sector to set coherent and long-term, sustainable policies to support Hong Kong's education and talent development."
The chamber, or AmCham, released the paper - sent to the government in August - to the South China Morning Post last week.
AmCham said the new committee, staffed by schools, business chambers and the government, should support long-term planning, prevent future imbalances in school places and report directly to the chief executive.
The Chief Executive's Office declined to comment on the chamber's request. Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Education Bureau said: "We have over the past few months engaged with chambers, the business community and international schools in addressing difficulties non-local families have encountered."
In recent months, British and Canadian chambers of commerce have warned that the shortage of school places could weaken Hong Kong's status as a financial hub. AmCham's paper says a majority of its members think the city has lost its appeal as a regional centre due to this problem, according to a survey. "We believe immediate action is required by the chief executive," the paper states.
It also cites a poll this year by a US relocation services firm which says Hong Kong is among the 20 locations that present the greatest challenges for human resources managers. Illinois-based Brookfield Global Relocation Services found that while the city is among the places where companies most often want to relocate employees, it also has one of the highest rates of "relocation failure", or when employees decline the move.
Firms in the survey said their top concerns were schooling, the cost of living, housing and problems with driving.
Last week, an Education Bureau spokeswoman said the city planned to further limit the number of local students who could attend international schools - to be built in future on government land - from 50 per cent to 30 per cent, giving more room for expats.
Education sector legislator Cheung Man-kwong also suggested the bureau should establish a committee to ensure foreign investors and expatriates could find school places for their children.
But some critics say drawing in foreign workers may depend on other factors.
Edmond So Wai-chung, general manager of Besteam Personnel Consultancy, said that while career prospects and good salaries are the top priorities for workers looking to move to Hong Kong, expats are deterred from the city by poor air quality, followed by lack of school spaces and high rents.
Being a Londoner, an international city if there ever was one, I don't remember this question ever being an issue there. All the foreigners (well, most) just enrol their kids into the local system and they learn the language. Why not do the same thing here? I did and my son is now trilingual. Problem solved.
howardcoombs
Registered User
Families from Non-English speaking countries in generally welcome multi-lingual education.
Most European countries themselves force dual,tri and quadlingual instruction (eg: Holland & Austria)
But for some strange reason, English speaking countries(and their citizens) generally have this irrational reluctance about multiple languages for fear of "confusion", "too hard" and many other excuses.
As father to 3 tri-ligual kids myself, I know that kids are sponges, they will adapt and learn everything you throw at them.
Most European countries themselves force dual,tri and quadlingual instruction (eg: Holland & Austria)
But for some strange reason, English speaking countries(and their citizens) generally have this irrational reluctance about multiple languages for fear of "confusion", "too hard" and many other excuses.
As father to 3 tri-ligual kids myself, I know that kids are sponges, they will adapt and learn everything you throw at them.