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Hong Kong places great emphasis on education. It offers some tremendous university programs, together with lifelong learning courses being available for all interested.
Several families enroll children in international and private schools, like the highly acclaimed Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong. Contrary to popular belief, especially in the last few years, tuition fees became so much more affordable, even when compared to state-run schools. But, here are the important things you have to be aware of.
Primary School
Hong Kong’s primary school system encompasses children aged three to six. Children who turn three will attend kindergarten for three years from the age of three before entering primary school. There are government, aided, Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools and private schools such as English Schools Foundation. Students can also study Chinese at one of many local language schools where they will gain proficiency and culture knowledge.
Hong Kong’s education system is unique in that all its services are free for local citizens; however, some fees must still be paid; these could include Parent-Teacher Association membership fees, Tong Fai fees or additional approved charges; one year of public schooling typically costs around 5,000 HKD.
Teachers in Hong Kong are highly qualified and well trained, expecting their students to respect them and follow the rules, which is an effective way of ensuring all children can focus on learning without distraction from others. Unfortunately, however, examination-oriented rote learning remains prevalent in the system and students can often fear taking risks or taking different approaches when doing things differently than expected.
In 2019, the Education Bureau revealed plans to revamp primary school curricula. This would include general studies elements as well as new modules on patriotism and national security reflecting China’s ever-increasing influence; one requirement being that all students pledge allegiance to Communist Party of China by 2025.
Hong Kong teachers have also seen teaching methods evolve over time in tandem with curriculum changes. Some are using the flipped classroom approach to increase student engagement and ensure greater comprehension of topics taught, while others utilize online resources for lessons that enhance interactivity. Others still are exploring new forms of assessment such as video evaluations to monitor progress of individual students. Such tools have become more widespread among Hong Kong educators as a step towards modernizing education systems in Hong Kong and providing their students with quality education experiences.
Secondary School
Hong Kong’s education system is highly competitive and exam-centric. Between 2000 and 2006, however, its curriculum was revamped in order to promote more holistic development rather than solely academic studies – including moral education as well as intellectual, physical, and aesthetic growth and development. Class sizes tend to be much larger than in international schools in Hong Kong; on average public secondary schools usually accommodate around 35 students per classroom while popular ones can have upwards of 45 pupils enrolled per class.
Technically, most local secondary schools can be considered grammar schools, even though the term is typically associated with elite selective schools that traditionally prepared students for university matriculation exams. Most secondary schools follow a conventional academic syllabus consisting of compulsory core subjects like Chinese, English and mathematics – plus electives like music/art/literature/liberal studies/science etc.
Many schools have been ranked according to their performance on the Program for International Student Assessment, an triennial survey of 15-year-olds conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Teachers face unique pressure to get their students performing effectively so they don’t lose their jobs.
As blue-collar work diminished and Hong Kong’s economy increasingly relied on services with higher value-added, employers began demanding employees with new skills that couldn’t be taught through traditional study – prompting educational reforms begun in 2009.
Other than public schools, independent and subsidized schools also exist that teach the same curriculum as their public counterparts. Most are run by religious orders, charitable bodies or organizations representing groups with shared ancestry. Furthermore, private international schools exist which typically provide a westernized curriculum; students at these can opt to complete International Baccalaureate exams or similar programs instead.
Post-Secondary Education
Hong Kong education system is highly competitive, and students are expected to perform at their best in their classes. School starts at age six and continues until students turn fifteen (Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary schooling are free-of-charge). Recently, however, this system has undergone reforms designed to ease student pressure; mandatory Junior and Senior Secondary exams were replaced with the Hong Kong Certificate of Educational Achievement exam which allows successful graduates to move onto public university systems.
Hong Kong universities are consistently among Asia Pacific’s best and most competitive. According to the Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings 2021, five UGC-funded universities — HKU, CUHK, HKUST, CityU and PolyU — made it into the top 100 worldwide rankings and options in the HK private school sector are also well-respected. Alongside their academic excellence, these universities also offer programs and opportunities designed to deepen students’ cultural awareness as they engage with society around them.
Hong Kong also hosts several postsecondary institutions that specialize in vocational and technical qualifications at Vocational, Certificate, Associate and Undergraduate levels. These post-secondary institutes, known as General Institutes, include numerous independent private colleges that can offer programs not available through university grant colleges (UGC) such as their entry requirements differ significantly.
Colleges specialize in certain fields of study and may be affiliated with local and international higher education and training providers. Some have degree-conferring status, enabling them to offer degrees at Bachelor’s Degree level or above and to use the name ‘University’ if the courses they offer have been regionally accredited.
Furthermore, several private colleges also provide sub-degree programmes. Usually shorter than a bachelor’s degree and focused on teaching practical work-related skills, these programmes can help build students’ professional credentials. To qualify for them, at least five HKCEE exams must have been passed prior to applying for these programmes.
International Schools
As families continue to relocate to Hong Kong, more international schools have opened. These primarily cater to expats from Britain, Australia and Europe with IB and English national curriculum teaching offerings available. Unfortunately, however, many popular schools have become overstretched making finding spaces for older children challenging.
As an alternative, some families opt to enroll their children in local Chinese schools where classes are conducted in Mandarin or Cantonese. This can provide children with exposure to local culture while familiarizing them with more traditional educational systems; however, this experience can also be highly stressful and time consuming for non-Chinese speaking children, potentially creating communication problems between home, school and peers.
Selecting between local and international schools depends entirely upon personal preference and budget considerations. International schools tend to offer more diverse environments and are usually more costly. Furthermore, smaller class sizes mean children get the attention they require.
There are a number of schools in Hong Kong – both public and private – offering Chinese lessons to children alongside English language tuition, commonly referred to as bilingual schools. They have become increasingly popular with long-term expats wanting their children to experience Chinese culture first-hand.
Also available as an option is Direct Subsidy Scheme schools (DSS), privately run primary and secondary schools that receive government funding from the Education Bureau. DSS schools may charge admission fees; students may choose their own teachers; these schools cannot conduct written entrance exams but must meet certain standards.
Take part in a school-based supplementary language class, usually free and held during the daytime hours, run by public and DSS schools as well as some independent international schools, where these classes focus on teaching English to non-native speakers while providing an introduction to education system and traditions of the city.
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