One of the universities considering whether to admit a nine-year-old prodigy is ready to accept him, but its president suggested yesterday he was not ready for campus life and would need special teaching.
The president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology said it would offer a special programme, possibly including individual teaching, for March Boedihardjo, of Wan Chai, who scored two A grades and a B in his British A-level exams this year.
A source involved in the Indonesian-Chinese boy's application said UST had indicated its willingness to accept him as a student.
The university's admissions committee met yesterday to discuss March's case. The boy, who has been studying in England for two years, has applied to study maths.
UST associate dean of science Ng Tai-kai said the committee's decision was unanimous and the proposal was interesting.
'We don't mean to be secretive but the proposal has to be communicated to his father first,' Professor Ng said.
UST president Paul Chu Ching-wu said: 'We mainly considered if he is mature enough and to see if he has any special needs.
