After Primary One classes cut, Hong Kong educators call for measures to reduce pressure on schools and teachers
Legislator has suggested a grace period for schools to admit transfer pupils and those arriving thanks to the talent scheme, while a teacher proposes smaller class sizes.
Students return to school on the first day of the academic year at St Joseph’s Primary School in Wan Chai. Photo: Sam TsangBefore you read: Amid a declining birth rate and increasing competition from international schools, Hong Kong’s 453 government and aided primary schools are under pressure to maintain their Primary One classes, with some schools facing the risk of closure.
Think about it: How are Hong Kong’s primary schools responding to the challenges posed by a declining birth rate and shrinking student population?
A Hong Kong primary school teacher has voiced concerns over the growing burden on educators to recruit students amid the city’s shrinking student population. Meanwhile, an education sector lawmaker has called for a grace period to allow schools to admit transfer pupils after the official student count to boost enrolment numbers.
As the new academic year begins, 68 Primary One classes across 64 government and aided schools have been cut due to the city’s dismal birth rate.
After accounting for schools that have added classes, the net reduction stands at 26 Primary One classes being axed this year at the city’s 453 government and aided primary schools. Many schools will only run one Primary One class each, putting them at risk of closure.
More pressure on teachers
A primary school teacher surnamed Lai*, who previously worked at an aided primary school in the Yau Tsim Mong district, shared her concerns over the school’s declining enrolment. To attract more students, the school began organising outreach activities two years ago, including open days and inviting kindergarten students for visits.
However, Lai revealed that these efforts placed additional pressure on teachers, who were already struggling with their teaching responsibilities.
“Teachers are professionals in education. They should not be tasked with organising events, purchasing goods, or doing tenders. These duties require other skill sets,” she explained. Lai switched to a private school in the Central and Western district this year.
“After [spending] a whole day with students, marking their homework and attending meetings, where can we find the time to manage these additional responsibilities?”
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She suggested that the government look to international models and consider implementing smaller class sizes: “In Finland, for instance, the average class size is less than 20 students. Smaller classes would allow teachers to give more personalised attention to each student.”
Lai said that schools unable to enrol cross-border students or achieve satisfactory results in the Secondary School Places Allocation (SSPA) system are especially vulnerable to class reductions.
She added that the city’s talent schemes could help mitigate the enrolment gap caused by Hong Kong’s low birth rate, noting that about 10 per cent of her students are dependents of those who came through the scheme.
Addressing a structural problem
Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin discussed the issue earlier this month, saying that the city’s shrinking student population is a “structural problem” and that keeping the existing number of schools was unrealistic.
According to figures from the Education Bureau, the projected population of school-age Primary One students aged six residing in Hong Kong from 2024 to 2030 will decrease from 49,600 to 34,100.
An article published in Mingpao earlier this month stated that Yuen Long would be the hardest-hit area for class reductions, with 10 primary schools in the district cutting a total of 10 Primary One classes. Following Yuen Long, the districts with the next highest reductions are Kwai Tsing, Sha Tin, North district, and Kwun Tong.
In spite of the projections, 37 government and aided primary schools have collectively opened 42 new Primary One classes this academic year. A new school, Pentecostal Holiness Church Wing Kwong Primary School in Tai Po, also started operations this year.
The Bureau conducted its annual student count on Monday to assess whether further adjustments to the number of approved classes are needed.
Education lawmaker and school principal Chu Kwok-keung has urged authorities to give schools a grace period following the official count to prevent class reductions.
“If the actual number of students in a school falls short of the approved number of classes after counting heads, the school will face class reductions ... [Giving schools a grace period] would allow them to admit transfer students,” he said.
Schools could admit transfer students through the city’s talent schemes, though the number of arrivals would not cover the shortfall: “Transfer students are more dispersed across different years rather than being concentrated in the Primary One level, so some primary schools still face the risk of school closures,” Chu explained.
Under the city’s allocation system, children hoping to enrol in a Primary One class at a public school for the 2025-26 academic year need to sign up at any one institution as part of the discretionary stage running from September 19 to 27. Half of Primary One places have been earmarked for this stage.
*Full name withheld at interviewee’s request