Hong Kong public secondary schools see spike in applications from mainland China

Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)

Hong Kong public secondary schools are seeing a spike in the number of pupils from mainland China seeking in-year admissions. In-year admissions are when a student applies for a school outside the normal admissions schedule.

Kan Wai-hung is the principal of HKTA The Yuen Yuen Institute No 1 Secondary School in Kwai Tsing district. He said that over 40 schools in the area had more in-year admissions this year.

Kan said the gap in English proficiency between children from Hong Kong and the mainland was huge. Some incomers were from rural areas and had not learned English in kindergarten.

A few secondary schools organised intensive English classes over the summer holidays because prospective pupils had poor English skills.

Many of these in-year admissions could be children of applicants to Hong Kong’s Top Talent Pass Scheme, which recruits many people from the mainland. Children of successful applicants can enrol in Hong Kong public schools for free.

Wong Kin-ho is a secondary school vice-principal. He said 70 per cent of his school’s in-year applicants were dependants of parents recruited through the top talent scheme.

Quiz time

1. From which region are Hong Kong public secondary schools seeing a rise in applications?

2. According to Kan, why do many of the mainland children struggle more in English compared to children from Hong Kong?

3. In this story, what kind of extra lessons did some schools hold over the summer?

4. What could be a reason for this increase of in-year applicants from the mainland?

Suggested answers

1. mainland China

2. Those from rural areas did not learn English in kindergarten.

3. intensive English classes

4. Many of those applying for in-year admission might be coming to Hong Kong because their parents have come to the city through the Top Talent Pass Scheme.