In recent years, the birth rate in Hong Kong has dropped and the number of students has decreased.
The Secretary for Education, Yang Runxiong, stated on a TV program this morning (15th) that as the number of school children continues to fall, some schools will inevitably need to "retire". The influence of teachers and students is reduced.
He also said that the population distribution in different districts of Hong Kong is uneven, and relocation is one of the methods. For example, Shau Kei Wan East Government High School will move to Kwun Tong.
Yang Runxiong, Director of the Education Bureau.
(Profile picture)
Yang Runxiong said on the Hong Kong and Taiwan program "Millenniums" that the birth rate fell sharply due to the epidemic last year. It was expected. However, excluding the annual data, the birth population has been declining in recent years. The decline continues, and there is no trend of recovery. The authorities need to formulate long-term strategies to deal with it. It is inevitable that some schools need to "retire". For example, the Xiangdao Road Government Primary School will be closed.
Yang Runxiong also mentioned that there will be new development areas in Hong Kong in the future, and schools are also needed to prevent students from taking classes across districts. He thinks that relocation may be one of the ways to solve the uneven population distribution. For example, Shau Kei Wan East Government High School plans to relocate Go to Kwun Tong.
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Speaking of the requirements of the academic community to fully implement small-class teaching, Yang Runxiong said that 80% of schools have implemented it, but due to the different population distribution in different districts, it is difficult to implement a "one size fits all" approach.
He also said that schools in certain areas cannot be forcibly reduced to achieve small class teaching, otherwise some students may have to take classes across different areas.
He said that the number of students in a school cannot be too small, otherwise the high school may not be able to offer enough elective subjects; the atmosphere of the school sports meeting may be affected if the number of students is too small.
The vice chairman of the Hong Kong Island School Principals Association, James Hanming, stated on the same program that small-class teaching has been implemented for more than 20 years and schools have been demanding full implementation, but 20% of schools still failed to implement it.
He emphasized that advocating small class teaching is not to solve the population decline, but it is good for learning in itself.
He continued that the bureau had previously stated that the number of students was too large and it would be difficult to implement it in an all-round way, but the current population decline should be an opportunity.
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