Education in Hong Kong: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->

{{Demographics of Hong Kong}}

{{EngvarB|date=July 2014}}

'''Education in Hong Kong''' has a similar system to [[Education in the United Kingdom|that of the United Kingdom]], in particular the [[Education in England|English education system]], as [[Hong Kong]] was colonised by the [[United Kingdom|British]] from [[1841]] to [[1997]]. Following the introduction of the comprehensive school system in the 1960's in the UK, children in Hong Kong transformed from the old education system of entering a 'first' school (4 years) followed by a 'secondary-middle' school (4 years), then a 'secondary-high' school (3 + 2 years) to the 'new' education system of primary school (6 years) followed by secondary school (5 + 2 years). The trend of late has been to replace 'first' schools with primary schools and accordingly, 'secondary-middle' and 'secondary-high' schools with fully-fledged secondary schools.

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}

{{Infobox education in country

==Overview==

|country name = Hong Kong

[[Image:Compu class.gif|frame|left|A group of students having a computer lesson.]]

|agency image = [[File:Regional Emblem of Hong Kong.svg|150px]]

In Hong Kong there is a non-compulsory three-year kindergarten education followed by a legal requirement of a six-year primary education and three-year junior [[secondary education]], then the non-conpulsory two-year senior secondary education and a two-year matriculation course leading to the Advanced Level examinations. There are also [[Tertiary education|tertiary institutions]] offering various bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, other higher diplomas and associate degree courses.

|agency = [[Education Bureau]]<br>[[Social Welfare Department]]

|leader titles = [[Secretary for Education (Hong Kong)|Secretary for Education]]<br>Director of Social Welfare

|leader names = [[Kevin Yeung]]<br><br>Carol YIP

|budget = {{HKD|110.526 billion}}<br />({{HKD|39,420}} per capita)

|budget year = 2012/13

|primary languages = [[English language|English]], [[Cantonese]]

|system type = National

|established events = 12-year Compulsory Education

|established dates = September 2019<ref name=BoEReport>{{cite web|title=Report on Review of 9-year Compulsory October 1997 Education (Revised Version)|url=http://www.edb.gov.hk/en/about-edb/publications-stat/major-reports/consultancy-reports/9-year-compulsory-edu-review-report/index.html|publisher=SUB-COMMITTEE Education, The Board of Education|access-date=5 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222202949/http://www.edb.gov.hk/en/about-edb/publications-stat/major-reports/consultancy-reports/9-year-compulsory-edu-review-report/index.html|archive-date=22 February 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> {{rp|Chapter 1, Paragraph 1.1}}

|literacy total = 94.6%<ref>Social Indicators of Hong Kong, from [http://www.socialindicators.org.hk/en/indicators/education/7.2] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521154920/http://www.socialindicators.org.hk/en/indicators/education/7.2 |date=21 May 2013 }}, [[The Hong Kong Council of Social Service]]</ref>

|literacy year = 2016

|literacy men = 98.33%

|literacy women = 94.92%

|enrollment year = 2018/19

|enroll total =1,045,000

|enroll primary = 376,300

|enroll secondary = 344,600

|enroll post-secondary = 324,100

|attain secondary = 49%

|attain post-secondary = 33.1%

}}

{{Education in Hong Kong}}

'''Education in Hong Kong''' used to be largely modelled on [[Education in the United Kingdom|that of the United Kingdom]], particularly the [[Education in England|English system]]. Since 2012, the overhaul of secondary school diploma has introduced changes to the number of school years as well as the two-tier general examinations. The DSE has replaced the old HKCEE (similar to the UK's GCSE) and the A-levels. Education policy in Hong Kong is overseen by the [[Education Bureau]] and the [[Social Welfare Department]].

Since the [[1970s]], a policy of nine-year free and eleven-year (with exceptions^) compulsory education has been launched in Hong Kong. It includes six years of primary education and first five (^or three) years of secondary education.

The [[Academic term#Hong Kong|academic year]] begins mid-year, usually starting in September.

There are basically three types of comprehensive schools in Hong Kong. Firstly there are ''government'' schools, which are relatively rare; by far the most numerous are ''subsidised'' schools, run by charitable (often Christian) organizations with government fundings. Most ''private'' schools are run by Christian organizations as well; admissions are based more on academic merit than on financial ability.

== History ==

Outside this system are the private ''international schools'', which provide an alternative to the high-pressured mainstream education, in exchange for much higher tuition fees.

Small village Chinese schools were observed by the British missionaries when they arrived {{circa|1843}}.<ref>The Chinese Repository, Article III 'Religious and Charitable Institutions in Hongkong: Churches, Chapels, Schools, Colleges, Hospital, etc' August 1843 issue, p.440</ref> Anthony Sweeting believes those small village schools existed in [[Stanley, Hong Kong|Chek Chue]] (modern-day town of [[Stanley, Hong Kong|Stanley]]), [[Shek Pai Wan]], [[Heung Kong Tsai]] (modern-day [[Aberdeen, Hong Kong|Aberdeen]]) and [[Wong Nai Chong]] on [[Hong Kong Island]], although proof is no longer available.<ref name="Sweeting">Sweeting, Anthony. [1990] (1990). Education in Hong Kong, pre-1841 to 1941. p.87, Hong Kong University Press. {{ISBN|962-209-258-6}}</ref>

One of the earliest schools with reliable records was [[Li Ying College]] established in 1075 in present-day [[New Territories]].<ref name="Brynpdf">Bryn Mawr College. "[http://www.brynmawr.edu/eastasian/pdf/Tang.pdf Brynmawr Eastasian pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070511045950/http://www.brynmawr.edu/eastasian/pdf/Tang.pdf |date=11 May 2007 }}." "brynmawr.edu." Retrieved on 15 March 2007.</ref> By 1860 Hong Kong had 20 village schools. Chinese who were wealthy did not educate their children in Hong Kong but instead sent them to major Chinese cities, such as [[Canton (Guangzhou)|Canton]], for traditional Chinese education.<ref name="Brynpdf" />

The mainstream education system in Hong Kong has often been described as a "[[Peking Duck]]-style education" ([[Chinese language|Chinese]]: 填鴨式教育), meaning that students are learning spoon-fed by being made to memorise books for examinations, i.e. rote learning. Schools in Hong Kong typically have strict codes of discipline; practically all school students in Hong Kong wear [[uniforms]].

The changes came with the arrival of the [[British Colony|British]] in 1841. At first, Hong Kong's education came from [[Protestant]] and [[Catholic]] [[missionaries]] who provided social services. Italian missionaries began to provide [[Single-sex education|boy-only education]] to British and Chinese youth in 1843.<ref name="Bray">Bray, Mark. Koo, Ramsey. [2005] (2005) Education and Society in Hong Kong and Macao: Comparative Perspectives on Continuity and Change. Hong Kong: Springer Press. {{ISBN|1-4020-3405-9}}</ref>

==Pre-school / Nursery / Kindergarten education==

In 1862 [[Frederick Stewart (colonial administrator)|Frederick Stewart]] arrived in Hong Kong. His work, over a period of years, led to his being called, "The Founder of Hong Kong Education". He took up an appointment as the first headmaster of the first school to be founded and fully-funded by the Hong Kong Government, [[Queen's College, Hong Kong|Queen's College]] (then named the Hong Kong Government Central School for Boys). He took a lead from various missionaries who had been active in Hong Kong education for the Chinese in the earlier post 1841 period and insisted on a bilingual and bicultural curriculum. (Half the day was spent on the Chinese language and the traditional Confucian curriculum and half the day was spent on the English language and what was then known as "useful knowledge" (i.e. western studies).<ref name="Bickley">Bickley, Gillian. [1997] The Golden Needle: The Biography of Frederick Stewart (1836–1889). Hong Kong: David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University. {{ISBN| 962-8027-08-5}}</ref>

This is a non-compulsory, two - three year education before primary school. Since 1997, there have been various changes in the governments requirements of teaching staff and curriculum content. Most noticeably, has been the requirement that a ratio of staff must hold the proper qualifications in order to teach in kindergarten/preschool education and that Principals too, must hold relevant qualifications. Although kindergarten has always been viewed as the 'Cinderella' of the levels in education, these moves to improve the quality of the kindergarten service means that children are able to receive a richer foundation in their learning than only the kind of child-minding service which some centres provided a few years ago. The Hong Kong government now fully acknowledges the importance of a good early years education.

One of the much-contested debates was whether schools should offer [[vernacular]] education, teaching in Chinese.<ref name="Sweeting" /> Education was considered a luxury for the elite and the rich. The first school to open the floodgate of western medical practice into East Asia was the [[Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese]]. The [[London Missionary Society]] and [[James Cantlie|Sir James Cantlie]] started the [[Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese]] in 1887 (although, the 'for Chinese' was later dropped from the name).<ref>Ingrams, Harold, ''Hong Kong'' (Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London: 1952), p.213.</ref> Also, the [[London Missionary Society]] founded [[Ying Wa Girls' School]] in 1900. From 1921 to 1941, St. Stephen's Girls College in Hong Kong provided a progressive science curriculum to help prepare career women for social service in China.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Stella Meng |title=The "New Woman" in the Periodical Press: Portraying Usefulness at St. Stephen's Girls' College in Hong Kong, 1921-1941 |journal=History of Education Quarterly |date=February 2024 |volume=64 |issue=1 |pages=43-65 |doi=10.1017/heq.2023.52|doi-access=free }}</ref>

Kindergartens are registered with, and supervised by, the Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB). In September 2002, 143 700 children were enrolled in 777 kindergartens. Existing government assistance to kindergartens includes rent and rates reimbursement to non-profit-making kindergartens, purpose-built kindergarten premises in public housing estates, the Kindergarten Subsidy Scheme, the remission of fees to needy parents through the Kindergarten Fee Remission Scheme and provision of training programmes for teachers and principals.

[[Belilios Public School]] was a girls' secondary school founded in 1890 – the first government school in Hong Kong that provided bilingual education in English and Chinese. The push for [[Sinology|Chinese education]] in a British system did not begin until the rise of social awareness of the Chinese community following the 1919 [[May Fourth Movement]] and the 1934 [[New Life Movement]] in China.<ref name="Sweeting" /><ref name="Brynpdf" /> Educating the poor did not become a priority until they accounted for the majority of the population. Financial issues were addressed in the [[1970s in Hong Kong|1970s]].<ref name="EhNet">Eh Net. "[http://eh.net/encyclopedia/article/schenk.HongKong Eh Net] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213192705/http://eh.net/encyclopedia/article/schenk.HongKong |date=13 February 2007 }}." ''Hong Kong History.'' Retrieved on 21 February 2007.</ref>

Some kindergartens employ a 'morning' and 'afternoon' class system while others, catering to full-time working mothers, provide a whole day service. While most kindergarten's academic calendar run from September to the end of June each year, it is common for many of them to continue into July or run summer camps.

In 1997 [[Keith Richburg]] of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' wrote that in the British era education was based on education in the United Kingdom, "largely apolitical", and did not emphasise topics related to politics nor civic affairs. The [[governor of Hong Kong]] had the right to bar, under law, "the dissemination of information, or expression of opinion, of a clearly biased political nature in schools" but Richburg stated that "That law was rarely used".<ref name=Richburg>{{cite web|last=Richburg|first=Keith|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/hongkong/abcs.htm|title=Hong Kong Students Learning the ABC's of Takeover|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=1997-05-19|access-date=2021-02-06}}</ref> There were attempts to repeal said law prior to 1 July 1997.<ref name=Richburg/> By 1991 the education authorities wanted to have history classes with a positive view of China to make the handover smoother but some teachers with liberal views sought to have more critical views.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-01-20-1991020096-story.html|title=Modern Chinese history to be taught in Hong Kong|agency=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|date=1991-01-20|access-date=2021-03-10}}</ref>

==Primary Education==

In 1997, the [[Hong Kong Special Administrative Region]] implemented the Target Oriented Curriculum (TOC) to introduce and spread the project learning in the national primary schools. To promote the interactions of work groups or individual students in a new [[learning environment]], professors were engaged in the role of "consultant, facilitator, helper" and posers of questions. Ten years after, the 80% of the Hong Kong's institutes had left the traditional approach to education, mainly based on teachers and textbooks, to adopt an [[active learning|active]] and [[experiential learning]] pedagogy.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Ping Kwan Fok | author2 = Kerry J. Kennedy | author3 = Jacqueline Kin Sang Chan | url = https://journals.sfu.ca/ijepl/index.php/ijepl/article/view/198/93 | title = Teachers, policymakers and project learning: The questionable use of 'hard' and 'soft' policy instruments to influence the implementation of curriculum reform in Hong Kong | journal = International Journal of Education Policy and Leadership | year = 2010 | volume = 5 | issue = 6 | pages = 3–4 | format = PDF | issn = 1555-5062 |oclc = 7179783131 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111002115413/https://journals.sfu.ca/ijepl/index.php/ijepl/article/view/198/93 | archive-date = October 2, 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref>

Primary education in Hong Kong covers a wide curriculum. Core subjects include Chinese, English, and Mathematics. Other basic subjects include social studies, sciences (physics, chemistry and biology), and health education (or 'General Studies' which is a mixture of the aforementioned), music, physical education, and art and craft.

The imposition of the [[2020 Hong Kong national security law|Hong Kong national security law]] resulted in a decline in enrolment in traditionally prestigious Hong Kong schools, as many families with the financial means chose instead to send their children abroad. According to a survey conducted across 100 schools, between July and November, approximately 1,474 students left these schools. Around 50% of these students departed Hong Kong along with other family members.<ref name="TangDidiTimes">{{cite web|last=Tang|first=Didi|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/asia/article/dropout-rate-at-hong-kong-schools-soars-as-families-flee-territory-ng9jdqgrn?s=09|title=Dropout rate at Hong Kong schools soars as families flee territory|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=2021-02-23|access-date=2021-02-23}}</ref> In January 2023, the release of data for the academic year 2021–2022 indicated a significant increase in the number of students who chose to leave Hong Kong universities before completing their degrees. This trend was accompanied by a notable rise in the departure of lecturers, reaching a level that had not been observed in over 20 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-19 |title=Hong Kong public universities log new high in number of students who quit early |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3207453/hong-kong-public-universities-log-new-high-number-students-who-leave-early-lecturers-quitting-higher |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> In February 2023, reports highlighted that approximately 3,500 teachers in subsidised schools had left their positions during the previous academic year, with a majority opting to resign rather than retire.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-04 |title=3,500 Hong Kong teachers quit, cashing out HK$10 billion from provident fund |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3209081/hong-kong-schools-lose-3500-teachers-one-year-and-provident-fund-pays-out-record-hk10-billion |access-date=2023-02-04 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref> Between 2021 and 2022, a report showed that around 28,000 students had left Hong Kong's school system.

The teaching medium in most of the local schools is Chinese with English as a second language. 'International' schools make their teaching medium English, with some of them providing education in an alternative language as a second language. For example, the German Swiss International School makes German the second language, and the French International School, French.

In 2020, it was observed that references to sensitive subjects had been excluded from the majority of new textbooks in Hong Kong.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Beijing |first1=Didi Tang |date=2020 |title=Tiananmen massacre 'erased from Hong Kong textbooks' |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/asia/article/tiananmen-massacre-erased-from-hong-kong-textbooks-j6lmsjnch |quote=Three out of the five textbooks submitted for government review make no mention of the movement at all, according to hk01.com, a local news site that has reviewed the contents. Of the remaining two versions, one has removed the mention of the bloody crackdown when troops were sent in to quash the movement}}</ref> In subsequent years, the government implemented additional measures, including a requirement for foreign teachers working in Hong Kong to take an oath of allegiance.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hong Kong NETs – foreign teachers of English – forced to take allegiance oath |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/12/hong-kong-nets-foreign-teachers-of-english-forced-to-take-allegiance-oath |access-date=18 June 2022 |work=The Guardian |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=12 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Notably, new middle school textbooks disputed Hong Kong's status as a former colony, presenting it as Chinese territory occupied by Britain. These textbooks also asserted that the recent protests in Hong Kong were instigated by foreign entities. The curriculum for liberal studies classes underwent a shift, with a renewed emphasis on patriotism and national security, including the establishment of National Security Education Day.

A central allocation system (the Secondary School Places Allocation system) was introduced when the Academic Aptitude Test was cancelled in 2000. This is used to determine which students, who successfully completed primary school, are eligible to which secondary school. This is determined by the students' grades in three examinations (the second term in Primary Five, the first and second terms of Primary Six). The grades are then adjusted by the school's overall performance in the Academic Aptitude Test during 1997 to 1999 by a complex formula.

In 2022, the [[Education Bureau]] introduced the Citizenship and Social Development subject, to replace Liberal Studies as one of the four core subjects in senior secondary education. As part of the subject, students will participate in fully subsidised field trips to [[mainland China]]. The trips range from two to five days in duration, with destinations such as [[Guangzhou]], [[Shenzhen]], and [[Hunan]]. The itinerary for the two-day trips includes visits to the Memorial Museum of [[Sun Yat-sen]]'s mansion and the former site of the [[Republic of China Military Academy|Whampoa Military Academy]] in Guangzhou. Another two-day trip involves exploring the Deqing Palace, a historical site in [[Zhaoqing]] city, where students learn about the ancient [[imperial examination]] system and [[Confucianism]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Standard |first=The |title=EDB announces compulsory mainland field trip for secondary 4 – 6 students |url=https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/192024/EDB-announces-compulsory-mainland-field-trip-for-secondary-4---6-students |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref>

This determines what 'band' a student is in. As schools are now divided into three bands according to their academic standards (previously five bands), the top few children of each class are most likely to be in Band 1, and vice versa. There has been some debate whether this 'band system' is fair or discriminatory. The courts have already gone someway to help reduce the discriminatory effect by changing the five-band system to a three-band one.

In 2023, the [[Hong Kong University of Science and Technology]] and [[Education University of Hong Kong]] announced that they would allow the use of [[artificial intelligence]]-enabled tools and [[large language model]]s such as [[ChatGPT]] in [[coursework]]. In a letter to staff, HKUST said the decision on whether or not to allow students to use AI tools would be left to individual teaching staff. EdUHK's vice president John Lee said “The emergence of AI technology has brought about tremendous change to conventional teaching. Teachers should be more proactive than ever in serving as facilitators to foster students’ understanding about the strengths and constraints of AI, while promoting the responsible use of technology".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-23 |title=Hong Kong rolls out first AI curriculum for junior secondary students |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3224954/hong-kong-rolls-out-first-ai-curriculum-junior-secondary-students-including-chatgpt-lives-definitely |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref>

Note, however, that this band system does not apply to international schools. In September 2002, 432,500 children were enrolled in 699 government and aided primary schools.

In August 2023, officials from Hong Kong and [[Guangdong]] signed a [[framework agreement]] to strengthen education exchanges and cooperation between schools in the two regions. The agreement aimed to promote collaboration and exchanges in education, nurture talent for the development of the [[Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area|Greater Bay Area]], and contribute to the development of both regions. It encourages [[Higher education|higher education institutions]] to collaborate on education services, [[Talent agent|talent cultivation]], and technology exchanges.

==Secondary Education==

[[Image:King.JPG|thumb|300px|King's College, a prestigious secondary school in Hong Kong.]]

Secondary education in [[Hong Kong]] is largely based on the [[England|English]] schooling system. Secondary school begins on the seventh year of formal education (kindergarten is excluded) after Primary Six, called Form One. Students are requried by law (with some exceptions) to spend five years in secondary schools. In the first three years (Forms One to Three) of secondary education, focus is on general, instead of subject-divided, education.

The agreement also focuses on enhancing cooperation in [[vocational education]], promoting the establishment of sister schools, facilitating exchange activities, and improving the quality of such exchanges. The [[Vocational Training Council]] signed a [[memorandum of understanding]] with Guangdong to initiate collaborative projects and establish the GBA Vocational Education Park. The agreement also involves Guangdong supporting the VTC's mainland operation center and providing guidance for the GBA Explorer Trip program, which aims to enhance students' understanding of GBA developments.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Standard |first=The |title=Guangdong opens up on education exchanges |url=https://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news/section/4/255527/Guangdong-opens-up-on-education-exchanges |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=The Standard |language=en}}</ref>

In Form Four, students will have to choose between a "Science" stream and an "Arts" stream. During Form Four and Five, they prepare for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination ([[Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination|HKCEE]]), which takes place after Form Five (similar to the UK's GCSEs or O-levels). Students obtaining a satisfactory grade will be promoted to the Form Six (aka. Lower Sixth), who then prepare for the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examinations ([[Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination|HKALE]]) (''which acts as a de facto university entrance examination akin to the UK's [[A-level]]s''; though the percentage of candidates getting grade 'A' is much lower, usually around 3-4%, depending on individual subjects'), which are taken at the end of Form Seven (aka. Upper Sixth). In Hong Kong, attainments (Grade E or above) in the HKALE [[Chinese Language and Culture]] and [[Use of English]] subjects are prerequisites for university admissions, similar to the language requirement of Grades A*-C in [[GCSE]] [[English language|English]] for university admissions in the UK. A central allocation system for places, called the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS), determines admission to tertiary institutions, largely based on the student's HKALE (and HKCEE) results. In addition, students achieving more than 6 'A's in their HKCEEs are eligible to apply in the [[Early Admissions Scheme]] (EAS) that give them the chance of entering certain universities ([[The Chinese University of Hong Kong]], [[The University of Hong Kong]] and [[The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology]]) upon the completion of Form Six, bypassing the HKALEs. There are around 400 students that meet the criteria each year. Medicine (CUHK/HKU), Pharmacy (CUHK), Law (HKU), Dual Degree programme (HKU/HKUST) are popular choices for EAS students.

==Pre-school education==

International school students rarely take Hong Kong public exams; instead, they sit for international or foreign public exams such as the British [[GCSE]], [[IGCSE]] and [[A-level]]s, the [[International Baccalaureate]], the U.S. [[SAT]]s, Abiturs, etc.

Pre-school education in Hong Kong is not free, in principle, and fees are payable by pupils' parents. However, parents whose children have the right of abode in Hong Kong can pay for part of their fees with a voucher from the government under the Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme (PEVS). In 2013, the amount of subsidy under the PEVS is $16,800.

At the time of writing ([[August]] [[2005]]), there continue to be heated discussion on a shift towards a U.S.-style education system, <em>inter alia</em>, changing secondary education from seven to six years, and university education from three years to four, as well as merging the two public exams HKCEE and HKALE into one public exam. Subject to approval, the proposed changes may take effect in a few years time.

==Primary and secondary education==

In the [[OECD]]'s international assessment of student performance, [[PISA (student assessment)|PISA]], Hong Kong was one of the high scorers: in [[2003]] 15-year-olds from Hong Kong came first in mathematics, and third in science, worldwide.

Every child in Hong Kong is required by law to attend a primary school after the child has attained the age of 6. They are also required to attend a secondary school after primary education and is completed before he/she attains the age of 18. However, a student who has completed up to Form Three of secondary education is exempted. Education in the public sector is free. Public primary schools admit students via the [[Primary One Admission System]].

==Tertiary education==

With eight universities and several other tertiary institutions in just one city, tertiary education plays a key role in the education system of Hong Kong. The number of tertiary education graduates (as proposed by [[Hong Kong Government]]) would increase to 60% of Hong Kong's population by 2010. Therefore, the number of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, associate degree programmes and higher diploma programmes will be increased substantially in the coming years, barring any universities merging.

===School years===

Of the 36660 students who attended the HKALE in 2003, 18049 (50.3%) of them fulfilled their general entry requirement to their respective university, usually a pass in [[Chinese Language and Culture]] and [[Use of English]], plus another two A-level subjects (or one A-level subject and two AS-level subjects). Students who sit for the HKALE first time have a success rate of 75.8%. There are 19 different [[A-level]] and 20 different [[A-level|AS-level]] subjects available. Of the 39, 32 subjects can be answered in Chinese. (Source: [[Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority]])

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

However, local universities provide only 14500 places for degree programmes, which means about 4000 students have to consider other options for their tertiary studies, e.g. higher diploma programmes and associate degrees.

! Average age in school year

The duration of the associate degrees and [[higher diploma]] programmes is usually two years. Students can then either transfer to a full undergraduate degree program in local universities or foreign universities if they meet certain academic requirements. They usually start from the first year, although sometimes they may be allowed to start from the second, if their course credits are transferrable. Thus, in a way, students who performed badly in the HKALEs are given a 'second chance'.

! Year

! colspan=3 | Curriculum Stages

! colspan="2" | Schools

|-

| 3–4

|Kindergarten 1

| colspan="3" rowspan="3" |Preschool education|| rowspan="3" | Kindergarten

|-

| 4–5

|Kindergarten 2

|-

| 5–6

|Kindergarten 3

|-

| 6–7 || Primary 1 || rowspan="6" | Primary education

| rowspan="6" |Primary level

| rowspan="3" |P.1–P.3 (KS1)|| rowspan="6" | Primary school

|-

| 7–8 || Primary 2

|-

| 8–9 || Primary 3

|-

| 9–10 || Primary 4

| rowspan="3" |P.4–P.6 (KS2)

|-

| 10–11 || Primary 5

|-

| 11–12 || Primary 6

|-

| 12–13 ||Secondary 1|| rowspan="3" | Secondary education || rowspan="3" | Junior secondary || rowspan="3" | S.1–S.3 (KS3) || rowspan="6" | Secondary school

|-

| 13–14 ||Secondary 2

|-

| 14–15 ||Secondary 3

|-

| 15–16 ||Secondary 4|| rowspan="3" |[[Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education|Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)]]

| rowspan="3" |Senior secondary

| rowspan="3" |S.4–S.6 (KS4)

|-

| 16–17 ||Secondary 5

|-

| 17–18 ||Secondary 6

|-

|>18 ||University || colspan="3" | Varies of further education || University

|}

===Secondary education===

In the past, only a few local universities provided associate degree programmes. As the demand for these programmes increased, other organisations such as [[Po Leung Kuk]], [[Caritas]], etc. also began to provide [[associate degree]] programmes. The tution fees for these courses were also less than those for local universities, partially reflecting their standard. The cost of undergraduate, full-degree, full-time programmes tend to be around [[HK$]]40,000 - 50,000 a year, with the cost being higher for engineering and medical students. The reason for this relatively low cost is due to heavy government subsidisation.

'''Secondary education''' is separated into junior and senior years. In junior years, the curriculum is a broad one where history, geography, science are studied alongside subjects that have already been studied at primary schools. In senior years, this becomes more selective and students have a choice over what and how much is to be studied. Almost all schools but [[PLK Vicwood KT Chong Sixth Form College]] and its feeder junior secondary college have both sessions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itseducation.asia/education-system.htm|title=The Hong Kong Education System and school system explained|access-date=7 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180903115913/http://www.itseducation.asia/education-system.htm|archive-date=3 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[University of Hong Kong]] and the [[Chinese University of Hong Kong]] are considered by most the top two universities in Hong Kong. Nevertheless, the standard in other universities is not low, and depends heavily on the subject studied. In particular, there has been strong competition from the [[Hong Kong University of Science and Technology]] (HKUST), espcially in the fields of technology and business administration. Indeed, HKUST fared better than the Chinese University in the 2004 Times Educational Supplement rankings.

Annually, Form Six students studying in local schools in Hong Kong sit for the [[Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education|Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE)]] between early March through early May. However, a minority of local secondary schools in Hong Kong also offer the [[International Baccalaureate]] Diploma Program (IBDP) for their students as an alternative choice to the HKDSE curriculum, for example, [[Diocesan Boys' School]] and [[St. Paul's Co-educational College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibo.org/programmes/find-an-ib-school/?SearchFields.Region=&SearchFields.Country=HK&SearchFields.Keywords=&SearchFields.Language=&SearchFields.BoardingFacilities=&SearchFields.SchoolGender=&SearchFields.ProgrammeDP=true| title=Find an IB World School }}</ref>

Postgraduate study is more exclusive. Since many Hong Kong students would choose to complete their postgraduate studies abroad, this has resulted in an insufficient number of local applicants, making the overall standard unimpressive. However, this is greatly compensated by students mainly from regional countries, who provide an unusually international outlook, compared to undergraduate education. After the [[handover]] of Hong Kong to [[People's Republic of China]] in 30th June 1997, students from [[Mainland China]] are ubiquitous in Hong Kong universities campuses. In fact, most non-Hong Kong postgraduate students in local universities come from Mainland China.

===Further education===

Being an international city, Hong Kong's tertiary institutions have many exchange student programmes with foreign universities, not just from the US and the UK, but also from many other countries, including Switzerland, Canada, Italy and Singapore, to name a few. As most exchange student programmes are one year long, this is the perfect way for students of other countries to broaden their horizons and enjoy and experience the vibrant life as well as all else that Hong Kong has to offer. Apart from the pollution, rarely has there been a complaint about life or the quality of education in this never-sleeping city.

The commerce stream in secondary schools is considered [[Vocational Education|vocational]]. Students in the Commerce stream would usually enter the workplace to gain practical work experience by this point. Further education pursuits in the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education or universities abroad are common. The [[Manpower Development Committee]] (MDC) advises the government on coordination, regulation, and promotion of the sector. Also, the [[Vocational Training Council]] (VTC) ensures the level of standard is met through the ''"Apprentice Ordinance"''. The VTC also operates three skills-centres for people with disabilities. Secondary schools in Hong Kong are going to be cut down to only two years due to the switch in the government.

==Adult Education==

The EMB has commissioned two non-profit-making school operators to provide evening secondary, primary, English courses and other diversified fee-charging programmes for persons aged 15 or above. Both operators have set up fee remission schemes to help the adult learners who are in need of financial assistance. Besides, EMB has also subvented non-government organisations to run various types of adult courses including those suitable for elderly and new arrivals, etc. In the 2003/04 school year, the total enrolment is 24 000. Adult education courses are also provided by the Vocational Training Council, the various universities and private institutes.

===Alternative education options===

==Education for Newly Arrived Children (NAC)==

{{Main|List of international schools in Hong Kong}}

The EMB provides education and support services for the NAC, including newly arrived children from the Mainland, non-Chinese speaking children and [[Hong Kong returnee|returnee]] children. Non-fee-charging Induction Programmes of 60 hours each have been offered to NAC by non-government organisations under the subvention of the EMB. Besides, in order to strengthen support for schools with intake of NAC, a school-based support scheme grant is given to schools for them to flexibly design support programmes to cater for the specific needs of NAC. The EMB also provides a six-month full-time Initiation Programme, incorporating both academic and non-academic support services, for NAC before they are formally placed in the mainstream schools.

International institutions provide both primary and secondary education in Hong Kong. International institutions teach with English as the primary language, with some sections bilingual in German, French and Chinese. International school students rarely take Hong Kong public exams. British students take [[GCSE]], [[IGCSE]], and A-levels. US students take [[Advanced Placement|AP]]s. Increasingly, international schools follow the [[International Baccalaureate]] Diploma Programme (IBDP) and enter universities through non-[[JUPAS]] direct entry. International students apply on a per-school basis, whereas Hong Kong local students submit one application for multiple local universities as a JUPAS applicant.

=== Medium of instruction ===

==Vocational, Post-secondary and Continuing Education==

In the 1990s, following the [[handover of Hong Kong]], most secondary schools in the territory switched their [[medium of instruction]] from English to Chinese (Cantonese). The remaining 114 schools (about 20–30%) are known as [[EMI schools]] and are often viewed as prestigious.<ref name=PostiglioneTanp107>Postiglione, Gerard A. and Jason Tan (editors). ''Going to School in East Asia''. [[Greenwood Publishing Group]], 2007. {{ISBN|0313336334}}, 9780313336331. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=HuE--CIdDuEC&pg=PA107 107].</ref><ref name=WooJacquelinep51>Woo, Jacqueline Chak-Kei. "Parental choice in the new education market: aided-turn-direct subsidy scheme schools in focus" (Chapter 3). In: Tse, Thomas Kwan-Choi and Michael H. Lee (editors). ''Making Sense of Education in Post-Handover Hong Kong: Achievements and challenges''. [[Taylor & Francis]], 10 November 2016. {{ISBN|1317439392}}, 9781317439394. Start: p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=jC4lDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA40 40]. CITED: p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=jC4lDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA51 51].</ref> EMI schools also have far better university acceptance rates than CMI schools; hence, EMI schools are heavily sought after by parents and are often labelled as 'elite schools'. From 2009 onwards, schools which use Chinese as medium of instruction were also allowed to have classes that use English as medium of instruction.<ref>Li, David C.S. ''Multilingual Hong Kong: Languages, Literacies and Identities'' (Volume 19 of Multilingual Education). [[Springer Science+Business Media]], 12 January 2017. {{ISBN|3319441957}}, 9783319441955. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=R5XlDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA279 279].</ref>

The Manpower Development Committee (MDC) advises the Government on the coordination, regulation and promotion of the vocational, post-secondary and continuing education sectors. It will help establishing a qualifications framework and a quality assurance mechanism to support the development of a lifelong learning society. It also offers advice on the manpower needs and the disbursement of funds to training providers. The Vocational Training Council (VTC) advises the Government on measures required to ensure a comprehensive system of vocational education and training suited to the developing needs of Hong Kong. It also institutes, develops and operates schemes for training operatives, craftsmen, technicians and technologists to sustain and improve industry, commerce and services. The VTC also establishes, operates and maintains the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), industrial training and development centres and skills centres. It also administers the Apprenticeship Ordinance. The IVE offers courses at higher technician, technician and craft levels leading to the awards of higher diploma, higher certificate, diploma and certificate. The education and training provided aims to lead to satisfactory employment, and lay a foundation for the students’ continued personal and professional development. In the academic year of 2002/03, more than 26 000 students were enrolled in full-time courses and nearly 29 000 in part-time courses. In response to government’s new initiative to increase the provision of post-secondary education for senior secondary school leavers from 30 per cent to 60 per cent of the relevant age cohorts within 10 years, the VTC set up in 2001 a new school called the VTC School of Business and Information Systems (SBI) to run self-financing full-time higher diploma programmes. In the academic year of 2002/03, over 1 400 places were offered. Furthermore, in order to support the provision of a seamless higher education for young people in Hong Kong, the VTC is actively seeking partnership with reputable local and overseas universities to provide attractive articulation pathways for its higher diploma graduates. About 97 400 full-time, part-time and self-study trainee places are offered in the 18 training and development centres of the VTC. They provide basic and upgrading courses for employees at all levels.

In addition, the Hong Kong government has pushed the use of [[Putonghua]] (Standard Mandarin Chinese) as medium of instruction in the Chinese language subject (PMIC). As of 2015–2016, about 16.4% primary schools and 2.5% secondary schools have adopted Putonghua, instead of Cantonese, for teaching the Chinese language subject across all grades and classes. An additional 55.3% primary schools and 34.4% secondary schools have adopted Putonghua in some of their grades and classes. The remaining 28.3% primary schools and 63.1% secondary schools still use Cantonese in all their grades and classes.<ref>[https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/07/P2018020700609.htm LCQ21: The use of Putonghua as the medium of instruction for teaching the Chinese Language Subject in primary and secondary schools]</ref>

==Vocational Training for People with Disabilities==

The VTC operates three skills centres and monitors the operation of another two operated by non-governmental organisations. These centres have about 1 250 planned full-time training places of which about 480 are provided with residential facilities.

==Tertiary and higher education==

==Professional Teacher Preparation==

{{Main|Higher education in Hong Kong}}

The [[Hong Kong Institute of Education]] (HKIEd), under the aegis of the University Grants Committee (UGC), aims at upgrading the quality of the teaching profession. It offers a range of degree and postgraduate programmes as well as some sub-degree teacher education programmes targeted at pre-primary, primary and secondary levels. In 2002/03, the institute offered 46 courses for 7 470 full-time and part-time students. The [[Chinese University of Hong Kong]] (CUHK) and The [[University of Hong Kong]] (HKU) offer full-time and part-time degree and postgraduate programmes for in-service and pre-service teachers. The [[Hong Kong Baptist University]] (HKBU) also offers both undergraduate and postgraduate teacher education programmes on a full-time or part-time basis. The [[Open University of Hong Kong]] (OUHK) offers two in-service Bachelor of Education (Honours) degree programmes and two in-service Postgraduate Diploma in Education programmes for primary and secondary school teachers. To cater to the community’s demand, these institutes also offer short courses for in-service education practitioners from time to time upon requests from the Education and Manpower Bureau.

Higher education in Hong Kong has historically been exclusive. Fewer than 20,000 students were offered government-funded places in 1975, though the figure has been growing over the past decades. Many continue their studies abroad as shown in table below.<ref name="Bray" />

==Continuing Professional Development for Principals==

Starting from the 2002/03 school year, all serving principals have to undertake continuing professional development activities for about 50 hours per year, adding up to a minimum of 150 hours in a three-year cycle. Newly appointed principals in their first two years are required to undertake specific continuing professional development activities. Starting from the 2004/05 school year, aspiring principals will have to attain the Certification for Principalship, in addition to complying with the appointment condition in force at the time, before they could be considered for appointment.

{| class="wikitable"

==List of schools==

:''See [[list of schools in Hong Kong]]''

! Country/Region ||1975 || 1984 || 1986 || 1988 || 1990 || 1992 || 1994 || 1998 || 2000

|-

| [[Hong Kong]] || 11,575 || 21,538 || 25,995 || 29,591 || 34,556 || 42,721 || 52,494 || 59,528 || 59,408

|-

| [[Australia]] || 572 || 1,658 || 1,687 || 1,889 || 3,864 || 6,707 || 11,932 || 17,135 || 20,739

|-

| [[US]] || 11,930 || 9,000 || 9,720 || 9,160 || 12,630 || 14,018 || 12,940 || 8,730 || 7,545

|-

| [[UK]] || 4,434 || 6,500 || 6,935 || 7,300 || 7,700 || 7,600 || 7,400 || 5,450 || 5,200

|-

| [[Canada]] || 6,644 || 7,723 || 6,730 || 5,840 || 6,372 || 6,600 || 6,589 || 5,000 || 5,000

|-

| [[Taiwan]] || 2,626 || 3,816 || 3,854 || 3,850 || 3,633 || 3,450 || 2,663 || 1,487 || 1,171

|-

|}

Bachelor's degrees issued in Hong Kong have honours distinctions: first class, second class upper division, second class lower division, and third class. Since the introduction of a new academic structure in 2012, the duration of undergraduate programmes in Hong Kong has been switched from three years to four years.

=== Admission ===

The [[Joint University Programmes Admissions System]] (JUPAS) is the main route of application designed to assist students holding [[Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education]] (HKDSE) or [[Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination]] (HKALE) results in applying for admission to universities in Hong Kong.

=== Medium of instruction ===

English is the medium of instruction and assessment for most university programmes in Hong Kong.

=== UGC-funded universities ===

There are currently eight [[University Grants Committee (Hong Kong)|UGC]]-funded universities in Hong Kong:

{| class="wikitable"

|+UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong

!Name

!Acronym

!Year Founded

!Location

|-

|[[University of Hong Kong|The University of Hong Kong]]

|HKU

|1911

|Hong Kong Island

|-

|[[Chinese University of Hong Kong|The Chinese University of Hong Kong]]

|CUHK

|1963

|Shatin, New Territories

|-

|[[Hong Kong University of Science and Technology|The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology]]

|HKUST

|1991

|Clear Water Bay, New Territories

|-

|[[Hong Kong Polytechnic University|The Hong Kong Polytechnic University]]

|PolyU

|1937 (granted university status in 1994)

|Hung Hom, Kowloon

|-

|[[City University of Hong Kong]]

|CityU

|1984 (granted university status in 1994)

|Kowloon Tong, Kowloon

|-

|[[Hong Kong Baptist University]]

|HKBU

|1956 (granted university status in 1994)

|Kowloon Tong, Kowloon

|-

|[[Lingnan University]]

|LU

|1967 (granted university status in 1999)

|Tuen Mun, New Territories

|-

|[[Education University of Hong Kong|The Education University of Hong Kong]]

|EdUHK

|1994 (granted university status in 2016)

|Ting Kok, New Territories

|}

HKU, CUHK, and HKUST are consistently ranked among the top 50 or top 100 universities worldwide, while PolyU and CityU are consistently ranked among the top 100 or top 200 universities worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-04 |title=World University Rankings |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2023/world-ranking |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=QS World University Rankings 2023: Top Global Universities |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2023 |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Top Universities |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=USNEWS best global universities |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/rankings}}</ref> HKUST, PolyU, and CityU are also ranked among the best young universities worldwide.<gallery>

File:The university of hong kong 01.jpg|HKU

File:Cuhk sign bldg.JPG|CUHK

File:HKUST campus view looking from above.jpg|HKUST

File:The Hong Kong Polytechnic University east.jpg|PolyU

File:C01-086.jpg|CityU

</gallery>

=== Publicly-funded institutions ===

* [[The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts]] (HKAPA, founded in 1984) – ''The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Ordinance (Cap.1135)''

=== Self-financing institutions – Statutory university ===

* [[Hong Kong Metropolitan University]] (HKMU; formerly the Open University of Hong Kong, OUHK; founded in 1989, granted university status in May 1997) – ''The Open University of Hong Kong Ordinance (Cap. 1145)''

=== Self-financing institutions – Approved post secondary colleges ===

Approved post secondary colleges are educational institutes registered under the Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance (Cap. 320). This kind of colleges are allowed to give out academic awards at bachelor's degree level or above as well as to include the Chinese words "學院" or "大學", or the English word "University" in the registration name with prior approval from the [[Executive Council of Hong Kong|Chief Executive-in-Council]].

* [[Hong Kong Shue Yan University]] (HKSYU, founded in 1971, granted university status in December 2006)

* [[Hang Seng University of Hong Kong]] (HSUHK, founded in 2010, granted university status in October 2018)

* [[Chu Hai College of Higher Education]]

* [[HKCT Institute of Higher Education]]

* [[Tung Wah College]]

* [[Caritas Institute of Higher Education]]

* Centennial College

* Gratia Christian College

* [[Hong Kong Nang Yan College of Higher Education]]

* [[Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong|Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi)]], [[Vocational Training Council]]

* [[UOW College Hong Kong]]

==Adult education==

Adult education is popular, since it gives [[middle age]] adults a chance to obtain a tertiary degree. The concept was not common several decades ago. The [[Education and Manpower Bureau|EMB]] has commissioned two non-profit school operators to provide evening courses. The operators have fee remission schemes to help adult learners in need of financial assistance. Adult education courses also provide Vocational Training Council through universities and private institutions. The [[Open University of Hong Kong]] is one establishment for mature students. Several secondary schools operate adult education sessions, the first being [[Cheung Sha Wan Catholic Secondary School]], while [[PLK Vicwood KT Chong Sixth Form College]] offers [[associate degree]] and joint-degree programmes.

==Special education==

However, since special education is accused of being a measure of discrimination and separation, the British education suggests that integrated education should be the leading factor, and many special schools will be forced to transform. Since the 2000s, special schools in Hong Kong have also followed this trend, except for moderately to severely intellectual disability students, other types of special schools need to be transformed into mainstream schools to accept ordinary students.

==Education for immigrant and non-Cantonese-speaking children==

The Education Bureau provides education services for immigrant children from [[mainland China]] and other countries, as well as non-Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong children. Free "Induction Programmes" of up to 60 hours have been offered to NAC by non-government organisations. The EMB also provides a 6-month full-time "Initiation Programme" incorporating both academic and non-academic support services, for NAC before they are formally placed into mainstream schools. The social issue aroused the interest of academic researchers to publish work about [http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B29803810 NACs' adaptation and school performance]

In 2017 the Hong Kong government schools had 6,267 Pakistani students, the largest non-local bloc, and 818 white students of any national background. In 2013 there were 556 white students of any background in Hong Kong government schools. Historically, non-local students from other Asian countries attended government schools, while white students attended private schools. In 2018 Angie Chan of ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that increasing numbers of white students were enrolling in Cantonese-medium government schools. This was due to increasing tuitions from international schools which received influxes of wealthy mainland Chinese and desires from parents for white students to learn Cantonese.<ref name=ChanWhiteStudents>{{cite web|author=Chan, Angie|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/22/world/asia/hong-kong-schools-.html|title=The New Thing in Hong Kong's Public Schools: White Students|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=2018-08-22|access-date=2020-01-18}}<!--Chinese versions: TRAD: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180827/hong-kong-schools-/zh-hant/ // SIMP: https://cn.nytimes.com/china/20180827/hong-kong-schools-/ --></ref>

==International education==

As of January 2015, the International Schools Consultancy (ISC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iscresearch.com/|title=International School Consultancy Group > Home|access-date=19 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130003317/http://www.iscresearch.com/|archive-date=30 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> listed Hong Kong as having 175 international schools.<ref name="iscresearch.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.iscresearch.com/information/isc-news.aspx|title=International School Consultancy Group > Information > ISC News|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000123/http://www.iscresearch.com/information/isc-news.aspx|archive-date=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> ISC defines an 'international school' in the following terms "ISC includes an international school if the school delivers a curriculum to any combination of pre-school, primary or secondary students, wholly or partly in English outside an English-speaking country, or if a school in a country where English is one of the official languages, offers an English-medium curriculum other than the country's national curriculum and is international in its orientation."<ref name="iscresearch.com"/> This definition is used by publications including ''[[The Economist]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/news/international/21636757-english-language-schools-once-aimed-expatriates-now-cater-domestic-elites-new|title=The new local|date=17 December 2014|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=26 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304215730/http://www.economist.com/news/international/21636757-english-language-schools-once-aimed-expatriates-now-cater-domestic-elites-new|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

While the ISC definition allows for an objective number it does also mean that the count of "international schools" is often considerably higher than the number of schools that would be relevant to an international, expatriate audience. WhichSchoolAdvisor.com,<ref>{{cite web |title=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com Hong Kong |url=https://whichschooladvisor.com/hong-kong |website=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref> a review-based site that looks exclusively at schools attended by expatriates, has 100 international schools listed in its directory,<ref>{{cite web |title=Hong Kong International Schools |url=https://whichschooladvisor.com/hong-kong/school-search?school_phase%5B%5D=1&school_phase%5B%5D=2&school_phase%5B%5D=4&school_phase%5B%5D=5&school_phase%5B%5D=6&school_phase%5B%5D=7 |website=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref> less than the ISC count, but still 17 more than its great city rival, Singapore. Of these, 24 schools follow in part or in full a UK-based curriculum<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whichschooladvisor.com/hong-kong/school-search?school_phase%5B%5D=1&school_phase%5B%5D=2&school_phase%5B%5D=4&school_phase%5B%5D=5&school_phase%5B%5D=6&school_phase%5B%5D=7&cur%5B%5D=12&cur%5B%5D=68&cur%5B%5D=42&cur%5B%5D=10&cur%5B%5D=11&cur%5B%5D=82 |website=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |access-date=8 August 2020|title=Hong Kong Schools – Reviews, Fees, Admissions Information }}</ref> (largely the I/GCSE up to 16, A Level post 16), while others follow a UK/International Baccalaureate blend with the IB Diploma offered for post-16 study. Some 33 schools in Hong Kong currently offer the Diploma.<ref>{{cite web |title=Schools offering the IB DP in Hong Kong |url=https://whichschooladvisor.com/hong-kong/school-search?school_phase%5B%5D=1&school_phase%5B%5D=2&school_phase%5B%5D=4&school_phase%5B%5D=5&school_phase%5B%5D=6&school_phase%5B%5D=7&cur%5B%5D=6 |website=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref>

Hong Kong's international schools are not subject to independent inspection reports by the territory's regulator, meaning word of mouth tends to drive reputation as to what are considered to be the best performing international schools in the territory. A large number of parent forums exist that help parents new to Hong Kong make an often very difficult decision.

Private, international schools come at very different prices. The most expensive school is currently [[Li Po Chun United World College of Hong Kong]], with average annual fees of HKD $360,000 (US$46,450.13). These fees are skewed by the fact that this school is boarding only, and only for the students studying the last two years of the IB. The next most expensive school in the territory is the [[Chinese International School]] (CIS), an IB continuum, bi-lingual school (Mandarin and English).<ref>{{cite web |title=HK Schools in order of fees |url=https://whichschooladvisor.com/hong-kong/school-search? |website=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref> Its average fees across year groups is currently HKD 216,500 (US$27,935).<ref>{{cite web |title=Chinese International School Fees & Availability |url=https://whichschooladvisor.com/hong-kong/school-review/chinese-international-school/fees-and-availability |website=WhichSchoolAdvisor.com |access-date=8 August 2020}}</ref>

In addition to the international day school, [[Japanese in Hong Kong|Hong Kong's Japanese population]] is served by a [[hoshuko|weekend education programme]], the {{Nihongo|Hong Kong Japanese Supplementary School|香港日本人補習授業校|Honkon Nihonjin Hoshū Jugyō Kō|extra=HKJSS}}.<ref>"[http://www.hkjss.hk/ Home] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503215234/http://www.hkjss.hk/ |date=3 May 2015 }}." Hong Kong Japanese Supplementary School. Retrieved on February 14, 2015.</ref>

In 2018 Angie Chan reported that increasing numbers of Chinese students, including Hong Kong Chinese and mainland Chinese, were enrolling in private international schools. In 2017 the percentage of foreign students in such institutions was under 75%, with Hong Kong Chinese being 21.6% and mainland Chinese being about 4%. In previous eras virtually the entire international school student body was foreign.<ref name=ChanWhiteStudents/>

There are top-rated exempted courses where courses offered overseas are collaborated with local institutions in Hong Kong to broaden the scope of [[tertiary education]] in Hong Kong.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edb.gov.hk/tc/edu-system/postsecondary/non-local-higher-professional-edu/course/exempted-course.html|script-title=zh:獲豁免課程名單|website=www.edb.gov.hk|access-date=21 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180426175957/http://www.edb.gov.hk/tc/edu-system/postsecondary/non-local-higher-professional-edu/course/exempted-course.html|archive-date=26 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> [[MIT]] has an innovation node in Hong Kong.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hkinnovationnode.mit.edu/news/|title=News – MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node|website=MIT Hong Kong Innovation Node|access-date=21 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923210952/http://hkinnovationnode.mit.edu/news/|archive-date=23 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Types of schools==

{|class="wikitable"

! width=20% colspan="2" | Type

! | Category

! width=70%| Description

|-

| colspan="2" | Government schools || [[Comprehensive School|Comprehensive]] || Run by the government.

|-

| rowspan="2" | Aided schools || Subsidized schools || Comprehensive || Most common, run by charitable and religious (Christian, Buddhist, Taoist, [[TWGHs]] and others) organisations with government funding.

|-

| [[Grant School (Hong Kong)|Grant schools]] || Subsidised || Schools run by charitable or religious organisations with government funding according to the now defunct Grant Code. Currently receiving government aid in accordance with the Codes of Aid <ref> [http://www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=680&langno=1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305071202/http://www.edb.gov.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=680&langno=1|date=5 March 2012}}</ref>,which also apply for the Subsidized schools.

|-

| colspan="2" | [[Direct Subsidy Scheme]] (DSS) schools || Subsidised || Run by non-government organisations. HKSAR Government has encouraged non-government primary and secondary schools which have attained a sufficiently high education standard to join the DSS by providing subsidies to enhance the quality of private school education since 1991/92 school year. Under the scheme, schools are free to decide their curriculum, fees and entrance requirements, under the following conditions:

*The number of students doing the local curriculum (HKDSE) must be no less than half of all students.

*All students must participate in the local TSA examinations.

|-

| colspan="2" | Caput schools || Subsidised || Subsidies are provided according to the number of pupils admitted.

|-

| colspan="2" | Private schools || Private || Run by private organisations and mainly accept local Chinese children. Admissions are based more on academic merit than on financial ability; they teach in English and in Cantonese.

|-

| colspan="2" | Private international schools || Private || Provide an alternative to the mainstream education, in exchange for much higher tuition fees although it is recently{{when|date=November 2018}}<!--Of what year?--> deemed{{who|date=November 2018}}<!--Who deemed it?--> as high-pressure as local mainstream education.{{which|date=November 2018}}<!--Which schools-->{{citation needed|date=November 2018}} The schools teach streams in English and in the language of its sponsoring nation, e.g., French, German, Japanese, etc.

|-

| colspan="2" | [[English Schools Foundation]] || Partially subsidised until 2028 || Provide an alternative to the high-pressured mainstream education. Tuition fees are lower than many other international schools as many ESF schools enjoy [[subvention]] by the [[Hong Kong Government]] to educate English-speaking children who cannot access the local system.[https://www.esf.edu.hk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Annual-Report_22-23_Final.pdf ESF Annual Report 22/23]

|-

|}

==Legacy==

===From 1970s/80s to 2011/12===

{| class="wikitable"

! width="10%" |Length

! width="30%" |Education type

! width="20%" |Additional names

! width="15%" |Type

! width="10%" |Focus

! width="10%" |School year

|-

| 3 years ||[[Kindergarten]]|| || voluntary|| General || Sept – June

|-

| 6 years || Primary education || Primary 1 to 6 || compulsory || General || Sept – July

|-

| 3 years || Secondary education || Form 1 to 3 || compulsory || General || Sept – July

|-

| 2 years || Senior secondary <br />(leads to [[Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination|HKCEE]])|| Form 4 and Form 5 || selective || Specialised || Sept – July (Form 4), Sept – April (Form 5)

|-

| 2 years ||[[Matriculation]] course <br />(leads to [[Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination|HKALE]]) || Form 6 (Lower Sixth Form)<br />Form 7 (Upper Sixth Form) || selective, performance based || Specialised || Sept – July (Form 6), Sept – February/March (Form 7)

|-

| Depends on subject || Tertiary education <br />(leads to certificates, various diplomas, [[Bachelor's degree|bachelors]], postgraduate certificates or diplomas, [[Master's degree|master's]], or PhD) || || selective || Specialised || Varies

|-

|}

===From 2012/13 to present===

{| class="wikitable"

! width="10%" |Length

! width="30%" |Education type

! width="20%" |Additional names

! width="15%" |Type

! width="10%" |Focus

! width="10%" |School year

|-

| 3 years ||[[Kindergarten]]|| || voluntary|| General || Sept – June

|-

| 6 years || Primary education || Primary 1 to 6 || compulsory || General || Sept – July

|-

| 3 years || Junior secondary education || Junior Secondary 1 to 3 (Form 1 to 3) || compulsory || General || Sept – July

|-

| 3 years || Senior secondary education<br />(leads to [[Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education]])|| Senior Secondary 1 to 3 (Form 4 to 6) || selective || Specialised || Sept – July (Senior Secondary 1–2), Sep – Feb (Senior Secondary 3)

|-

| Depends on subject || Tertiary education <br />(leads to certificates, diplomas, associates, professional diploma, higher diploma, advanced diploma, [[Bachelor's degree|bachelors]], [[Master's degree|post-graduate certificates or diplomas, masters]], phd) || || selective || Specialised || Varies

|}

==Class size==

In the past, many primary schools in Hong Kong adopted a half-day schooling system to accommodate the high demand for education. This arrangement involved splitting the school day into two sessions, with separate headmasters overseeing each session. To compensate for the reduced school hours, students were occasionally required to attend school on alternate Saturdays. In line with government policy, half-day schooling was gradually phased out as resources allowed. Most schools have now transitioned towards full-day school systems.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Panel on Education (Papers) |title=Information Paper – Whole-day Primary Schooling (CB(1)137/96-97(02)) |publisher=Government of Hong Kong |year= |___location=Hong Kong |language=English}}</ref>

In recent years, the decline in [[birth rate]] has had a significant impact on primary schools, leading to class reductions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-22 |title=Secondary schools in Hong Kong appeal for reduction in class size |url=https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/news/hong-kong/article/3186215/secondary-schools-hong-kong-appeal-reduction-class-sizes |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=Young Post}}</ref> This has sparked debates on the potential benefits of promoting small class teaching. Proponents posit that implementing small class sizes would help alleviate the pressures faced by teachers and address the challenges arising from reduced student-to-teacher ratios, class sizes, and school capacities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-27 |title=Why Hong Kong schools must reduce class size |url=https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3204385/why-hong-kong-schools-must-reduce-class-size |access-date=2023-09-12 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref>

==Discipline==

Good behaviour has always been emphasised in Hong Kong, to the point that it is sometimes said to hinder pupils' development. Misbehaviour is recorded and shown on school reports. The Education Bureau (EDB) provides the 'Guidelines for Student Disciplines' to schools to as guidance in creating a disciplined education environment. It outlines the principles and policies regarding student discipline, the organisational structure of a school discipline team, the roles and responsibilities of the discipline master and mistress, and discipline strategies illustrated with case studies.<ref>{{cite web|title=Student Guidance and Discipline Services|url=http://www.edb.gov.hk/en/student-parents/student-guidance-discipline-services/overview/index.html|website=The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region|access-date=4 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150719191521/http://www.edb.gov.hk/en/student-parents/student-guidance-discipline-services/overview/index.html|archive-date=19 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Culture ==

{{see also|Hong Kong Kids phenomenon|Monster parents}}

Education in Hong Kong has often been described as 'spoon-fed'. [[Cram schools in Hong Kong]] have also become a popular standard in parallel to regular education. Teachers focus on helping students getting high scores in the major exams and heavily rely on textbook knowledge rather than exchanging ideas and essence of the subjects.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chong, Chan|first1=Dennis, Joyee|title=Students 'spoon-fed'|url=http://www.scmp.com/article/1006323/students-spoon-fed|access-date=4 August 2015|agency=South China Morning Post|date=9 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924095939/http://www.scmp.com/article/1006323/students-spoon-fed|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

With the advent of education reform there is a greater emphasis on group projects, open-ended assignments on top of traditional homework. The current workload of a primary student in Hong Kong includes approximately two hours of schoolwork nightly. Along with [[extra-curricular activities]], Hong Kong's education has become synonymous for leaning towards quantity. As early as March 1987, education advisory inspectors became concerned with the excessive amounts of "mechanical work and meaningless homework".<ref name="Vickers">Vickers, Edward. [2003] (2003). In Search of an Identity: The Politics of History Teaching in Hong Kong, 1960s–2000. United Kingdom: Routledge. {{ISBN|0-415-94502-X}}</ref> In particular, history education has been recognised as ineffective, with critics claiming that the curriculum is not capable of delivering a sense of identity. Not only that, students have to memorise the whole history texts, thereby indicating that rote-learning has greater priority than absorbing and understanding material.<ref name="Vickers" />

==See also==

{{Life* [[List of schools in Hong Kong}}]]

* [[Higher education in Hong Kong|Higher Education andin ManpowerHong BureauKong]]

* [[List of universities in Hong Kong]]

* [[Direct Subsidy Scheme]]

* [[Education in mainlandthe People's Republic of China]]

* [[Education334 by countryScheme]]

* [[EMI schools]]

* [[List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong]]

* [[A Passage a Day]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==

* {{cite journal|last1=Bray|first1=Mark|last2=Yamato|first2=Yoko|title=Comparative Education in a Microcosm: Methodological Insights from the International Schools Sector in Hong Kong |journal=[[International Review of Education]]|date=March 2003|volume=49 |issue=1/2 |pages=53–73|publisher=[[Springer Science+Business Media]]|doi=10.1023/A:1022917905362 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3445474|jstor=3445474|bibcode=2003IREdu..49...51B |s2cid=142949260 }}

*Tang, Kwok-Chun ([[Hong Kong Baptist University]]) and Mark Bray ([[University of Hong Kong]]). "[http://web.worldbank.org/archive/website00238I/WEB/PDF/TANG_BRA.PDF Colonial models and the evolution of education systems: centralization and decentralization in Hong Kong and Macau]." [[World Bank]].

*Chan, Anita K.W. and Lucille L.S. Ngan. "[https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17450101.2017.1300452?src=recsys Investigating the differential mobility experiences of Chinese cross-border students]." ''[[Mobilities (journal)|Mobilities]]''. Volume 13, 2018. Issue 1. p.&nbsp;142–156. DOI [https://doi.org/10.1080/17450101.2017.1300452 10.1080/17450101.2017.1300452].

*{{cite web|url=https://hkupress.hku.hk/pro/con/714.pdf|title=LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION CENTRES IN HONG KONG|publisher=[[Hong Kong University Press]]|year=1996}}

*{{cite journal|last=Loper|first=Kelley|url=https://hub.hku.hk/bitstream/10722/54929/2/31801446.pdf?accept=1|title=Race and Equality: A Study of Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong's Education System|publisher=[[University of Hong Kong]] Faculty of Law Centre for Comparative and Public Law|date=February 2004}} – Occasional Paper No. 12

==External links==

{{Commons category}}

*[http://www.edb.gov.hk/en/index.html Education Bureau, Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region]

{{Hong Kong topics}}

{{Education in Asia}}

{{Education in China by ___location}}

{{World topic|Education in|noredlinks=yes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Education In Hong Kong}}

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[[Category:Education in Hong Kong| ]]

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