Largest international school group in Hong Kong to launch trial run for pre-nursery classes, despite city’s declining student population
- Toddlers born in 2020 are eligible to apply for pre-nursery classes as part of pilot scheme by English Schools Foundation, with lessons to cost HK$11,500 per month
- Trial comes as education authorities report many local kindergartens are struggling to enrol enough toddlers into pre-nursery classes
The biggest international school group in Hong Kong will launch its first half-day pre-nursery classes in August as part of a trial run at one of its kindergartens, despite the city’s shrinking student population and the historically low birth rate.
The English Schools Foundation (ESF) Tung Chung International Kindergarten said the new three-hour pre-nursery class would not guarantee the direct progression of pupils into the group’s most competitive centres, but would ensure their applications were given priority.
Toddlers born in 2020 are eligible to apply for the classes, which will cost HK$11,500 (US$1,465) per month, the kindergarten said, adding only 18 pupils would be enrolled in the scheme and they would be split into two sessions.
Principal Allison Banbury said the launch was a pilot scheme and it was currently unclear if the other four ESF kindergartens would introduce their own pre-nursery classes next year.
“We do not have a plan yet. I think these are in discussions,” she said.
The principal said demand for English pre-nursery education in Hong Kong was still strong despite the drop in the city’s birth rate and declining student population.
