In late September, there are private and international schools that have increased their tuition. One school says it increases the tuition because of hiring teachers and purchasing tablets for education electronically. This would allow students to each have a tablet and do not need to wait in line for taking turn to use tablets. For direct subsidy schools, there are less schools considering increasing tuition due to the delay of school development plan because of Covid 19 situation impacts.
Education Bureau would consider the school financial budget, the reason for increase tuition, and make sure the schools have communicated and explain to parents their reasons for increasing tuition. It wants the school to understand and uses 10% from the total tuition amount for tuition waiver and scholarship. This would help students to continue learning without worrying of the possible struggles with family financial difficulty situation. Private and international school would go through the same process, and if parents have concerns, schools would need to address the concerns and reply to the parents.Education Bureau express that since the decision for kindergarten, primary and secondary school in Hong Kong to suspend face to face classes, it shows schools have faced more financial difficulties. The Anti- Epidemic Fund has offered some allowance to school to relief their financial situation.
In early this month, Education Bureau has sent out mail to school about the allowance details. For schools in English Schools Foundation, international school, and private independent schools, as long with other private primary and secondary schools, each school would receive $40,000 allowance.
Besides,
some schools might have increased the fees for registration and for additional
fees, for example, stationary, purchasing practice books, and more. French
International School pm class changes their registration fee to zero, and lower
the registry fee from HKD2,800 to 2,200. Singapore International School
registry fee is HKD$2,200. Canadian International School keep the registry fee
as HKD$20,000. The Hong Kong Academy registration fee is remaining as the most
expensive at HKD$2,800. The Harbor School registration fee is at HKD$2,500.