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Hong Kong education chief insists schools have seen ‘no significant drop’ in pupil numbers although figures show 66 Primary One classes cut across city

  • But Kevin Yeung notes more people, including many pupils, have been leaving the city with their families
  • About 54 schools were each expected to cut a Primary One class from September, while half a dozen would axe 2, Post check finds

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The new school term in Hong Kong began on September 1. Photo: Winson Wong
Hong Kong’s education minister has insisted there was “not a significant drop” in the number of pupils enrolled in primary schools, although official figures show more than 60 classes have been cut citywide amid a wave of emigration over the past year.
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But Kevin Yeung Yun-hung noted on Friday that more people, including many pupils, had been leaving the city with their families, and said the government would conduct its annual headcount of students by the middle of the month to assess any impact and come up with measures if needed.

A Post check of the Primary School Profiles 2021, published recently by the Committee on Home-School Co-operation, found 54 schools were each expected to cut one Primary One class from September, while six schools would cut two each.

Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung. Photo: Nora Tam
Secretary for Education Kevin Yeung. Photo: Nora Tam

With each class typically having about 25 pupils, that meant 1,600 spots were cut.

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According to the Education Bureau, about 60,000 six-year-olds were eligible to study in Primary One this year.

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