Hong Kong schools urged to find ‘way out’ over falling student numbers

The head of Hong Kong’s largest teacher training institution has urged all school governing bodies in the city to find a “way out” to handle dwindling student numbers.Professor John Lee Chi-kin, president of the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), also said on Monday that schools should develop their own features and strengths, stressing that teacher training should not be ignored despite the falling numbers.His remarks follow an announcement by education authorities two weeks ago that 15 primary schools – a record high in recent years – would not be allowed to operate subsidised Primary One classes in the coming school year because of insufficient student enrolment.Under current policies, those primary schools will have to close down if their survival plans are not approved after three years, while authorities have been encouraging institutions to consider mergers with others.“Every school has an incorporated management committee. It has to discuss with the school head and teachers a way out at a suitable juncture. It needs everyone’s wisdom as there are numerous ways out,” Lee said.He noted that all schools had to face the effects of the student population’s structural decline and consider how to tackle the issue, adding that universities should also address the matter for their mid- and long-term development.