Public school that are located in Hong Kong are well-known for placing a lot of pressure on students. Not all expat parents approve of this rigid approach. Private international schools have, on the contrary have adopted a more Western educational system that has more flexible curriculum. In any case, whatever alternative expat parents select they can be assured of high-quality education as well as the possibility to select from a wide range of the top schools and higher educational institutions.
In this section, we discuss the system of daycare and kindergarten, the cost of education, and schools that allow you to brush up on your Cantonese understanding.
What is the educational System in Hong Kong?
The system of education is in Hong Kong is publicly funded. The entire 12 years of schooling, from primary to the senior secondary school (ages 6 through 18) is provided for free to pupils attending public schools.
Public schools constitute the majority of schools in Hong Kong. They are usually run by the government or a religious or charitable organisation. Thus you can find a Catholic as well as a Protestant one within Hong Kong should not be a problem.
Types of schools that are available in Hong Kong Description Government Public schools that are run and funded by the government; free. Aided public schools, run by religious or charitable organizations which are funded by the government (most typical type) Free. Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) Private schools subsidized by the government. Not cost-free. Caput Schools Public schools partly subsidized by the state; not free. Private Schools Privately owned schools designed for Chinese students; admission is based on excellence in education and is not free. International Schools Private International Schools Privately run schools targeted at international students. expensive admissions fees. English Schools Foundation Private schools that are partly funded by the federal government; targeted at students who speak English; however, they are not completely free.
The main differences between private and public schools are fees and curricula. The public schools within Hong Kong are free, while admittance to private ones will require a charge. Because the government isn’t able to control the curricula in private schools, it usually differs from the standard education method. However, certain schools (e.g. : DSS) still have to prepare students for the same final exam.
What is the Education System like in Hong Kong?
When discussing what is known about the Hong Kong school system, it is crucial to remember that it went through significant changes in the past several years. The school is known for its competitiveness and scholastic rigor, the system was changed to ease the pressure on students. The compulsory primary and junior secondary school exams are not included in the syllabus anymore. However, the high-stakes culture continues to drive many students to the verge of mental collapse.
Information about Hong Kong Education System
The education system in Hong Kong is free, and school is compulsory from six to fifteen years old (primary or junior secondary school). Children who attend public schools in Hong Kong attend primary schools for six years. They are followed by three years of junior secondary school, and another three years of secondary education.
Education Long-Term Ages Type School Year Kindergarten 3 years 3-6 Voluntary September to June Six years of primary school Mandatory September and July junior secondary 3 years 13-15 mandatory Sept-July Junior Secondary 3 years 13-15 Selective Sept July (year 1-2) August – February (year 3)
After completing the 12-year program and passing the final exam Students are awarded an Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE).
The system of grading for HKDSE grade Western Equivalent. Meaning: 5** A* Top in the class 5A/A* Excellent 5 Good 4 B/C 3 D/E Pass 2-1 F Failure
The system for grading at Hong Kong universities is based on a 4-point system:
GRADE (NUMBER) GRADE (LETTER) MEANING 4.3-3.7 A Excellent 3.6-2.7 B Good 2.6-1.7 C Adequate 1.7-1.0 D Pass <1.0 F Fail
School is in Hong Kong starts around 7:30 from 8:00. It continues until around 14:30, or 15:00.
The classes in public schools typically teach in Chinese but there is a chance to use English as a learning language being added later in the curriculum (secondary school). Some private schools operate in Chinese; however, private international schools typically teach classes in English.
Kindergarten and Daycare
In general, great childcare opportunities and excellent kindergartens and pre-schools are simple to find within Hong Kong. International kindergarten Hong Kong is usually started at age 3 or 6. But, it’s not required. Depending on your preference, you can usually choose whether your child will be attending kindergarten on a full as well as a half-day.
Children under the age of 3, you can apply for a slot in a nursery class, a childcare facility or even hire someone to take care of children at home.
The curriculum in kindergarten differs between schools but the government is adamant about the principle of child-centered education. The objective of this style in education is help children learn how to be socially aware and develop good habits and become curious about their environment. Common subjects include the language, mathematics in the early years, physical health as well as science and technology, self and society, and art. They are taught with active involvement, play and support.
Kindergartens across Hong Kong are run privately. Some of them are not-profit-making some are independent establishments. The fees for kindergarten will depend on the type of kindergarten you choose.
Non-profit kindergartens are now covered under the Free Quality Kindergarten Education scheme which allows children of all ages to be educated in preschool for free. The program only provides the half-day program for children aged 3 to 6.
The costs for kindergarten vary based on the class that you attend, as well as whether you select full or half-days, and the area of the kindergarten. The typical costs for kindergarten are difficult to estimate as they is a range of 77,000 and the 70,000 HKD (900 to 9000 USD) each year, or higher than that.
Secondary and Primary Schools
Primary Schools
For Hong Kong, primary schools run on morning, afternoon or all-day programs. The morning and afternoon schedules were designed to accommodate the amount of pupils attending primary schools and to avoid overcrowding.
Admissions into public elementary (also referred to as elementary) elementary schools of Hong Kong is divided into two stages: Discretionary Places admission and central Allocation.
Primary One Admission Systems Distinctionary Places Central Allocation Priority Points System Comprises 30% of accepted students. It comprises 20% from accepted students. The 50% group comprises all accepted students. The priority is granted to students of employees at the school or students who already have siblings studying at the school. Selection of students is based on a set point system. Parents have an “unrestricted choice” and may choose three school districts (comprises the 10% the accepted applications who are eligible for Central Allocation). Parents select from a particular network of schools of the location they reside within (comprises 95% of the accepted students in Central Allocation).
If you do not know the best school for you, it is possible to choose a school from the Hong Kong government provides you with a comprehensive list of every (public as well as private) primary schools in Hong Kong, including all the essential information. It tells you the length and the number of classes, the school’s curriculum The qualifications and experience of teachers, school fees and many other pertinent details.
If your child attends a public primary school within Hong Kong, you may be asked to pay certain charges. These school costs might include a payment to the Parent-Teacher Association, Tong Fai as well as other fees that have been approved. Tong Fai is a form of payment that was introduced in public schools after schooling in Hong Kong became free. Most of the time, total costs for public schools must not be more than $5000 HKD (65 USD) per year.
Parents who want their children to attend private schools will have to go through an entirely different process for applying and will be charged higher charges. One year in the private primary school of Hong Kong costs around 40,000 HKD (5,100 USD).
If your child attends at a primary school in the public sector then they will be assigned to a particular secondary school when they graduate. Parents of children who attend private or DSS primary schools must apply for secondary schools themselves.
Secondary Schools
Secondary school (in some countries , it is known as high school) education within Hong Kong is split into two components which are junior secondary and secondary schooling. They both last three years and while junior secondary education is mandatory however, the decision on whether or not a student should be enrolled in a high school for senior secondary is up to the individual student and their capacity.
School allocation for secondary schools is comparable as the process for applicants to be accepted to primary schools in Hong Kong and the process is broken down into two steps The first is Discretionary Places, the second is Central Allocation. However, the ratio of students accepted varies.
Secondary School Places Allocation Systems Discretionary Places Central Allocation comprises 30% of students who are accepted. Includes 70% of students accepted under this program, it is possible to apply for two secondary schools. Under this plan, you can apply for 3 secondary schools from schools in any network (comprises 10 percent of the accepted applicants for Central Allocation). In this plan you can request 30 secondary schools in your school’s local network(comprises 90percent of accepted applicants in Central Allocation).
In certain secondary schools, specific subjects are made available in English as a learning language. To determine if this is an option at a school near where you reside take a look at the listing of Hong the city’s secondary schools. In addition, you will get detailed information on what the dimensions of each school are. teachers as well as the curriculum, teaching methods, and many other details.
If it comes to school fees the public secondary school in Hong Kong are mostly free, with some additional charges. The possible charges are Parent-Teacher Association fees, Student Association Membership fees as well as Tong Fai for students in the senior secondary school. In all, the amount should not exceed 500 HKD (65 USD) annually.
When children transition from primary to secondary education, many schools will organize events to help them make friends with their new environment.
Senior Secondary Schools
Transferring from junior school to senior secondary should not be an issue. Numerous schools that offer junior programs ensure that the graduates have a good number of opportunities in their senior programs as well.
Students who don’t want to continue with their mainstream education could opt to attend in a vocational program instead.
Students who opt for the high school in the senior secondary level are required to take four subjects that are essential to their education: Chinese and English languages along with mathematics, and liberal studies. In addition, they can select three additional subjects from their school’s syllabus (history, biology, physics and more.) and study an additional subject in applied learning and language (applied science, business management, services and so on. ).
The end of the three-year senior education, students take the final exam that usually includes the above-mentioned core subjects in addition to any additional subjects the student decides to take. The examinations come in a few sections and require both oral and written examinations. Students are also required to write papers in order that are evaluated on their ability to communicate and earn an assessment for their application of learning subject before receiving their diploma.
When the exams are passed after which the students get a Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) that allows them to proceed to higher education stages.
Assistance for Students who are Newly Arrived
Hong Kong pays specific attention to newly-arrived kids that need to be introduced to the local schooling system. Parents who want their children to attend one of the mainstream schools have a few choices to aid their children in integrating. These include:
Initiation Programme is a six-month (September-March) all-time programme that combines academic and non-academic components to allow English learners to acquire Chinese (or conversely). The program is for free and can be found in a handful of schools across Hong Kong.
Induction Program – a 60-hour part-time program that operates during the at school during the day, or after school, or during weekends, depending on the requirements of the children. The curriculum consists of classes of instruction in Chinese and English as well as an introduction to the traditions of the local community , Hong Kong’s educational system, and communication and teaching skills. The program is offered free of cost and offered in a variety of schools across Hong Kong.
School-based supplementary classes for language – a program run by both public as well as Direct Subsidy Scheme schools and provided by the School-Based Sustained Scheme . Typically, the curriculum of these classes is determined by specific schools.
International Schools
In addition to the traditional public school, a reputable private school system that includes international schools has been in operation. Many expats choose to send their children there due to the more westernized curriculum. In recent years, they’re getting more popular with local Chinese pupils too.
The school year for international schools generally begins in August. To ensure your child is placed in the school of your preference you must begin the application one year ahead of time.
Each international school often has its own admission requirements, so be sure you contact your preferred school directly. Be aware that some schools may give preference to students of specific nationality (e.g. : French schools might prefer French students) as well as siblings of present students, or even students of the faculty.
One advantage of sending your child to an international school is that they typically are smaller than the public schools in your area, and are generally not as competitive. The downside is that the main drawback of international schools is simply their costs. Although public schools are generally open to all children, international school tuition fees range from 100,000 to the 200,000th of HKD (12,800 to 25,600 USD) or more for annual tuition costs, contingent on the institution and the grade your child attends.
If your child is already familiar with the Chinese language and you wish for to help them become fluent and write in hanzi (Chinese letters), you may find that the standard of Mandarin as well as Cantonese taught at international schools is not adequate. There are a few international schools are truly bilingual which is why a local public school may be the better choice in such a case.
Higher Education
The universities in Hong Kong have recently developed outstanding reputations within the borders of Hong Kong and beyond. In recent years, the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong in particular have been awarded top spots in international university rankings. Additionally, the government is currently dedicating a large portion of attention and resources towards enhancing the area’s position as an education hub. This means that universities in Hong Kong might be a greater than a sensible option when your kids want to pursue a college education and live in Hong Kong.
Each of the universities and other institutions of higher education in Hong Kong offer internationally recognized degrees for their students. These include bachelor’s and postgraduate degrees that are based on research programs and postgraduate courses. The undergraduate degrees offered within Hong Kong usually last four years. However, you may find courses lasting just 2-3 years as well.
A majority of universities offer courses in English Therefore, there’s no need to worry about your Chinese language skills. However, you should study the specifics of the course of your choice.
How Much Will It Cost to Study in Hong Kong?
The price of higher education differs from one school to another according to the type of course you choose and if you are an international student or not. Local students will have to pay between 40,000 and 45,000 HKD (5,100 or 5,750 dollars) for a year in an undergraduate course. International tuition for university students could be double, triple, or even quadruple – from anywhere from 80,000 to 165,000 HKD (10,200 up to 21,100 USD) per academic year.
Post-graduation studies for international applicants in universities that are supported by the government cost about 4000 HKD (5,100 USD) per year, while locals are able to pay tuition fees all over the world.
The universities can charge an application fee that is around 350 HKD (45 USD). Some higher education institutions will require applicants to pay a non-refundable fee upon acceptance. The amount is between 10,000 and 80,000 HKD (1,300 up to 10250 dollars). On the other hand, some universities offer scholarship programs that students from abroad may be eligible to apply for.
The other degrees, courses and programs are listed below.
There are numerous recognized universities and colleges in Hong Kong offering sub-degree courses like associate degrees or higher diplomas.
