Editorial | DSE needs oversight to ensure growth in popularity remains healthy
The boom in DSE courses on the mainland speaks to Hong Kong’s appeal as an education hub, but better oversight is needed to ensure quality
Among them, more than 40 charged at least 100,000 yuan (US$13,930) in annual tuition, with one demanding 334,000 yuan. Some also charged additional boarding and meal fees that total thousands of yuan each year. Separately, some mainland students were willing to pay up to 20,000 yuan for consultancy services that advise on which university to apply for. Evidently, a lucrative education industry is developing.
Only four schools in the Greater Bay Area have been approved by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority to register students as school candidates for DSE exams. Those pursuing the curriculum elsewhere must register as private candidates.
The boom in DSE courses on the mainland is testimony to the city’s growing appeal as an education hub. However, the lack of regulation has raised concerns over quality and fees.
The number of non-local private DSE candidates grew from 238 in 2023 to 960 this year. The expansion of DSE programmes has not just added to the competition for university admission – there could also be negative consequences if the courses are not well managed.