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Following is a question by the Hon Lam Tai-fai and a written reply by the Secretary for Education, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council today (May 23):
Question:
Quite a number of primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong ceased operation one after another since the reunification. Some members of the education sector have pointed out that one of the reasons that have led to schools ceasing operation is the introduction of the policy on consolidation of under-utilized primary and secondary schools (commonly known as "closing schools") by the Education Bureau in 2003, and some vacant school premises have not been fully utilized. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the names and locations of the primary and secondary schools which had ceased operation in each year since 1997, as well as the reasons for their ceasing operation and the number of students affected (set out in table form);
(b) among the premises of the schools in (a) which had ceased operation, for those which were re-used afterwards, of the respective numbers of years for which they were left vacant, and their uses as well as the bodies using them at present;
(c) among the premises of the schools in (a) which had ceased operation, for those which are still vacant at present, of the respective numbers of years for which they have been left vacant, and the plan for using such premises in the future;
(d) at present, how it determines whether to continue to keep the premises of the aforesaid primary and secondary schools which had ceased operation for educational use;
(e) whether it has assessed the number of primary and secondary schools that will cease operation in each year of the next decade due to under-enrolment; if it has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(f) whether it has assessed if in the next decade, there will be a need to re-open the primary and secondary schools which had ceased operation, owing to a rebound in the number of students in Hong Kong; if it has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(g) whether any measure is in place to encourage school sponsoring bodies to apply for using the premises of the schools which had ceased operation for setting up schools; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(h) whether any measure is in place to encourage school sponsoring bodies of direct subsidy schools to apply for using the aforesaid vacant school premises to run primary and/or secondary schools under a "through train" operation mode, or operate branch schools; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(i) whether any measure is in place to encourage local tertiary institutions to apply for using the aforesaid vacant school premises for teaching purposes; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
(a) The Education Bureau (EDB) has implemented the policy on "Consolidation of Under-utilised Primary Schools" (Consolidation Policy) in government and aided primary schools since the 2003/04 school year. According to this Bureau's record, a total of 86 primary schools ceased operation under the Consolidation Policy in the school years from 2003/04 to 2011/12 for not meeting the minimum threshold number of Primary One students. Details of these schools are set out at Annex I. There is no consolidation policy for government and aided secondary schools. Secondary schools may cease operation for various reasons, including the closing of schools by school sponsoring bodies on a voluntary basis because of under-enrolment or in pursuit of other development plans etc. During the same period, a total of nine government and aided secondary schools ceased operation and the details of which are set out at Annex II. We do not have a breakdown of the number of schools ceasing operation for different reasons.
(b), (c) and (d) EDB has an established mechanism for handling vacant school premises. We will consider if the size, location and physical conditions of the premises would render it suitable for re-allocation for school or other educational uses. Under normal circumstances, for school premises which are considered suitable to be so re-cycled, we will confirm the re-allocation of these premises for further school or other educational uses upon consultation with relevant bureaux and departments. As regards the premises that are not suitable for further school or other educational uses, EDB would inform the Planning Department and return these school premises to relevant departments for their consideration on alternative uses in accordance with the prevailing established arrangement. Should individual bureaux or departments indicate interest to use any of these premises, they have to consult relevant departments and the Planning Department and apply for use.
Among the premises of the 86 primary schools and nine secondary schools mentioned in (a) above, 31 of them have already been deployed/reallocated for further educational uses (see Annex III). Of these 31 premises, 16 have been redeployed/reallocated for school use, three for decanting use and 12 for other educational uses, including onscreen marking centre of the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority, offices of the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications and the Employees Retraining Board, vocational training centres, post-secondary education use etc. Another 15 premises have been earmarked for further school use or other educational uses (see Annex IV).
The remaining 49 premises are considered not suitable for further educational uses given their limited size and remote locations. Therefore, they have already been or will be returned to the relevant government departments for disposal in accordance with the relevant lease conditions and established Government policy for other uses where appropriate.
(e) According to existing information on primary schools, it is anticipated that one aided primary school will cease operation under the Consolidation Policy in each of the 2012/13 and 2013/14 school years. For secondary schools, EDB has received notification from the school sponsoring bodies concerned to date and anticipates that one aided secondary school will cease operation in each of the 2012/13, 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18 school years after phasing out its classes by level. Separately, two secondary schools will merge with other schools in the 2012/13 and 2014/15 school years.
Whether an existing public sector school will cease operation depends on a number of factors, such as the future supply and demand of school places in the district concerned and the development plans that may be chosen by the school management etc. Hence, we are not able to estimate the number of schools that will cease operation due to under-enrolment.
(f) EDB will make reference to the projections of school-age population which are compiled based on the population projections released by the Census and Statistics Department, actual numbers of students studying at various levels at present and the latest demographic changes to estimate the future demand for school places, school premises and related resources. We will monitor the changes of the supply and demand for school places in different districts and take timely measures to meet the relevant demand.
(g) Under the established arrangement, if there is any vacant school premises that would be available for recycling and for application by school sponsoring bodies for school use, we will allocate the premises through the School Allocation Exercise. A basket of factors including the relevant lease conditions of the land where the premises is located, quality of school proposals and track records of the school sponsoring bodies etc would be taken into account. School sponsoring bodies interested in using vacant school premises for operation of schools are invited to take note of the announcements of the School Allocation Exercises.
(h) Given the overall surplus of public sector school places in recent years, this Bureau has no plan to increase the number of places in Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools at present, including through granting vacant school premises to the school sponsoring bodies of DSS schools for the operation of "through train" schools or branch schools.
(i) As far as institutions funded by the University Grants Committee are concerned, this Bureau has been endeavouring to identify suitable sites to meet their actual needs for premises, including actively exploring the gainful use of vacant primary and secondary school premises, and passing relevant information to the institutions for consideration and application. As regards the self-financing post-secondary sector, we have been actively supporting its development, including the leasing of vacant school premises at nominal rent to non-profit-making institutions under the Land Grant Scheme for the operation of full-time locally-accredited self-financing post-secondary programmes. So far, five vacant school premises have been granted for the development of self-financing post-secondary institutions.
Ends/Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Issued at HKT 12:09
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