The United Christian Music Kindergarten in Tseung Kwan O announced last night (28th) that it would immediately close its operations due to financial pressure.
Some private kindergarten principals believe that the closure of kindergartens this time is an isolated incident, and there has not been a wave of closure of kindergartens in Hong Kong for the time being. It is estimated that some schools may be under financial pressure due to high rents and insufficient enrollment.
The Education Bureau replied that it had contacted the kindergarten immediately after learning of the incident.
According to the bureau's understanding, the school will provide assistance in transferring schools to affected students.
"Hong Kong 01" asked United Christian Music Kindergarten about the incident.
The United Christian Music Kindergarten in Tseung Kwan O announced last night (28th) that it would immediately close its operations due to financial pressure.
(Photo by Ou Jiale)
The United Christian Music Kindergarten in Tseung Kwan O announced the closing news last night, but said it would concentrate resources on the continuing operation of the kindergarten and children’s music school.
The school pointed out that it will contact parents who have paid the tuition fee in August and refund a quarter of the tuition fee in August. It will also compensate in accordance with the terms of the contract and lay off the staff of the kindergarten department. As for the affected students, they will be referred to the district. Neiyou School continues to advance to higher education.
Many parents left messages expressing their regret at the end of the kindergarten operations.
Cai Lifang (first from right), director of the Federation of Educational Associations, believes that the end of operation of kindergartens is an isolated incident, and we have not seen a wave of kindergarten closures in Hong Kong.
(Information picture/provided by the Federation of Education)
The industry believes it is an isolated incident
Tsai Lifang, director of the Federation of Education Workers and principal of Sibo Kindergarten, believes that the end of operation of kindergartens is only an isolated incident, and there has been no wave of closure of kindergartens in Hong Kong for the time being.
She said that last year the Education Bureau provided a one-off subsidy of 30,000 to 80,000 yuan to the kindergarten in the kindergarten education program.
Tsai pointed out that it was at the beginning of the epidemic, and the industry was worried that schools would have operational difficulties, but at that time the government provided subsidies for schools. "The most difficult time has passed."
As the school started, the United Christian Music Kindergarten suddenly announced that it would close immediately due to financial pressure.
Cai Lifang said that some schools may be under financial pressure due to high rents. In addition, because in the past, kindergartens had to pay the reservation fee first, and the tuition fee was paid about one month before the beginning of the school year, the school may miss the budget and find that the admission The number of people is not enough to meet daily expenses.
She also pointed out that the rents of kindergarten campuses are high. She took the 8,000-square-foot kindergarten in Kowloon City District as an example. The monthly rent alone has spent nearly 500,000 yuan.
In addition to the rent issue, Cai Lifang believes that insufficient enrollment is also a key factor in school closure.
She pointed out that due to the drop in the birth rate this year, some parents are considering emigrating. In addition, due to the economic impact of the epidemic, some parents may choose subsidized kindergartens. As a result, individual private kindergartens have enrolled more than half of the year before.
The consultant of the Federation of Education and the principal of St. Wenjia's Chinese-English Kindergarten, Mak Tse Qiaoling, pointed out that many kindergartens have financial difficulties due to high rents and insufficient enrollment under the epidemic.
She continued that some private kindergartens have reported to her that the epidemic has reduced the admission rate by about 10 to 20%. “Because of the epidemic, parents are holding a wait-and-see attitude. The birth at the end of the year may wait until the epidemic eases.”
When asked whether it is common for the school to announce the end of its operations just before the beginning of school, Mak Shea-ling said bluntly, "(I believe) if I have the ability, I don’t want to go this far. I may have asked investors but in the end there was no reason. You won’t be able to graduate."
Education Bureau: Provide appropriate advice and support to schools and students
The Education Bureau replied that it had immediately contacted the kindergarten involved after learning of the incident.
According to the bureau's understanding, the school will provide assistance in transferring schools to affected students, and the Education Bureau will also provide appropriate advice and support to the school and students.
"Hong Kong 01" asked the school about the incident.
United Christian Music Kindergarten was established in 2018, advertised that the curriculum is mainly music.
[New crown pneumonia] Parents feel hesitated about the completion of Hongguang International Kindergarten. The superintendent applied to the Education Bureau for renewal of the kindergarten. The principal was accused of asking the teacher to take pictures of SEN children and stripped pigs. Selected National Security Readers to help teachers refer to teaching Tseung Kwan O United Christian Music Kindergarten financial difficulties will be suspended immediately and part of the tuition fee will be refunded in August
01News
