Latest news with #EducationBureau
RTHK
3 days ago
- Politics
- RTHK
CE gathers views for his Policy Address in Hung Hom
CE gathers views for his Policy Address in Hung Hom Chief Executive John Lee was attending a meeting in Hung Hom to gather views for his upcoming policy blueprint. Photo courtesy of the Chief Executive's Policy Unit Shoring up support for Hong Kong's ethnic minority population and boosting the fertility rate were among a number of appeals to Chief Executive John Lee as he attended a meeting in Hung Hom on Sunday to gather views for his upcoming policy blueprint. Dozens among the more than 100 people attending put forward their suggestions and concerns in the two-hour televised forum, including a kindergarten teacher representing ethnic minorities who called for better learning and career opportunities for the population. "How would the government help ethnic minority families and their next generation for them to have a fairer and more equal learning environment, while providing them with appropriate support both inside and outside of school?" she asked. In response, the city's leader said his administration is working to build a more inclusive community. "I understand very well that we need to provide support for them in many aspects, such as language, especially Cantonese and learning Chinese. Every year, the Education Bureau has a number of subsidies and measures [on that front]," Lee said. "There are also care teams dedicated to ethnic minorities to better understand their culture and background." Some other issues covered focused on addressing the city's low birth rate and assisting young people. The Chief Executive said the government had rolled out a number of measures to encourage childbirth, such as a HK$20,000 handout and tax reduction. Lee was also urged to roll out support measures for the elderly, provide resources to the arts, and provide more funding for the development of innovation and technology. "When formulating policies, the government has to take care of things on both the macro and micro levels. On the macro level, we need to make the pie bigger. When the pie is bigger, everyone benefits from it. It's equally important to ensure each person has a larger share of the pie," he said. Lee will hold another town hall meeting next week, before delivering his fourth annual Policy Address in September.
RTHK
3 days ago
- Politics
- RTHK
CE urged to support ethnic minorities, boost birthrate
CE urged to support ethnic minorities, boost birthrate Chief Executive John Lee was attending a meeting in Hung Hom to gather views for his upcoming policy blueprint. Photo courtesy of the Chief Executive's Policy Unit Shoring up support for Hong Kong's ethnic minority population and boosting the fertility rate were among a number of appeals to Chief Executive John Lee as he attended a meeting in Hung Hom on Sunday to gather views for his upcoming policy blueprint. Dozens among the more than 100 people attending put forward their suggestions and concerns in the two-hour televised forum, including a kindergarten teacher representing ethnic minorities who called for better learning and career opportunities for the population. "How would the government help ethnic minority families and their next generation for them to have a fairer and more equal learning environment, while providing them with appropriate support both inside and outside of school?" she asked. In response, the city's leader said his administration is working to build a more inclusive community. "I understand very well that we need to provide support for them in many aspects, such as language, especially Cantonese and learning Chinese. Every year, the Education Bureau has a number of subsidies and measures [on that front]," Lee said. "There are also care teams dedicated to ethnic minorities to better understand their culture and background." Some other issues covered focused on addressing the city's low birth rate and assisting young people. The Chief Executive said the government had rolled out a number of measures to encourage childbirth, such as a HK$20,000 handout and tax reduction. Lee was also urged to roll out support measures for the elderly, provide resources to the arts, and provide more funding for the development of innovation and technology. "When formulating policies, the government has to take care of things on both the macro and micro level. On the macro level, we need to make the pie bigger. When the pie is bigger, everyone benefits from it. It's equally important to ensure each person has a larger share of the pie," he said. Lee will hold another town hall meeting next week, before delivering his fourth annual Policy Address in September.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong students told to avoid ordering takeaway food on mainland China trips
Students from Hong Kong should refrain from ordering food and drinks through delivery platforms during trips to mainland China in the new academic year, in light of reports that more than 100 pupils taking part in such tours developed gastroenteritis symptoms, according to a new official guide. Students were also advised not to go to the gym or use recreational facilities in hotels to ensure they have sufficient rest the following day, according to education authorities. The Education Bureau recently uploaded a document for schools in a 'frequently asked questions' format for such trips in the new academic year. Trips to the mainland are mandatory for a new core subject for senior secondary school students. The subject was implemented in September 2021 after the city's social unrest in 2019, to boost youngsters' understanding of mainland China and patriotism. More than 140,000 students joined the trip from 2022, spending between two and five days on these excursions. At least ten secondary schools reported that more than 100 students joining past trips had developed gastroenteritis symptoms, sparking concerns over food hygiene on the mainland, with Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin attributing it to the humid weather leading to widespread bacteria. In the new document, the bureau said students should not buy food from the platforms as the trip already covered their meal arrangements.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong students warned against ordering takeaway food during mainland trips
Students from Hong Kong should refrain from ordering food and drinks through delivery platforms during trips to mainland China in the new academic year, in light of reports that more than 100 pupils taking part in such tours developed gastroenteritis symptoms, according to a new official guide. Students were also advised not to go to the gym or use recreational facilities in hotels to ensure they have sufficient rest the following day, according to education authorities. The Education Bureau recently uploaded a document for schools in a 'frequently asked questions' format for such trips in the new academic year. Trips to the mainland are mandatory for a new core subject for senior secondary school students. The subject was implemented in September 2021 after the city's social unrest in 2019, to boost youngsters' understanding of mainland China and patriotism. More than 140,000 students joined the trip from 2022, spending between two and five days on these excursions. At least ten secondary schools reported that more than 100 students joining past trips had developed gastroenteritis symptoms, sparking concerns over food hygiene on the mainland, with Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin attributing it to the humid weather leading to widespread bacteria. In the new document, the bureau said students should not buy food from the platforms as the trip already covered their meal arrangements.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
23 kindergartens in Hong Kong plan to close by end of school year
At least 23 Hong Kong kindergartens have indicated they will close by the end of the current school year in August, marking a 28 per cent year-on-year increase over 2023-24, education authorities' data shows. The anticipated rise has been linked to the record-low birth rate in 2022, with children born that year set to make up most of the next batch of first-year kindergarteners. The sector has also warned that more closures may follow if the situation fails to improve. The city has already seen a dip in the number of registered births this year, with levels for the first five months dropping by about 6 per cent year on year, despite small upticks in 2023 and 2024. In a reply to the SCMP, the Education Bureau said that as of June this year, 23 preschools had indicated that they would cease operations in or by the end of the 2024-25 school year. In the first 10 months of 2023-24, 18 kindergartens told authorities that they would close. The tally for that entire school year later reached 29, comprising 17 non-subsidised local kindergartens, eight non-local institutions and four subsidised local preschools. The anticipated rise in closures has been linked to the record-low birth rate in 2022. Photo: Jelly Tse Sector leaders said they expected non-subsidised preschools to account for most of the affected kindergartens, citing the city's high rents and declining student numbers. Among those set to close are two private preschools operated by Greenfield English (International) Kindergarten, an early childhood education group. The two branches are set to close in August, with the company attributing the move to the falling fertility rate. The group had four preschools in Hong Kong this academic year. Many of the pupils set to enter K1 in September were born in 2022, when only 32,500 births were recorded. It is the lowest number since the data became available in 1961. Industry leaders have already spoken about the difficulties of admitting sufficient K1 students for 2025-26. Wave of closures The Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers warned that the early childhood education industry could face a wave of closures if the situation continued. 'The current decline in the school-age population in Hong Kong has made it difficult for kindergartens to enrol students. The financial pressure on kindergartens that run full-day classes has become even more severe, with losses occurring year after year,' it said. The federation urged the government to let subsidised kindergartens running half-day and whole-day classes use public funding more flexibly. 'We suggest the authorities allow the financial surplus of half-day classes to subsidise the financial losses of full-day classes, thereby increasing the financial flexibility of kindergartens and alleviating operational pressure,' it said. The number of registered births in the first five months of this year dropped by about 6 per cent year on year, with the level going from 14,760 to 13,855. The latter figure echoes levels seen in 2022. The number of births in 2023 and 2024 stood at 33,200 and 36,700 births, respectively, marking the second and third lowest figures on record. Choi Lai-fong, vice-chairwoman of the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers and a private kindergarten principal, said insufficient student enrolment levels would only get worse in the future. 'The uptick is so small, while there are more than 900 kindergartens in Hong Kong. With only about 30,000 babies each year, it is already considered very good for a kindergarten to secure 20 new K1 students for the coming year,' she said. Choi said subsidised kindergartens with old facilities and private preschools grappling with high rents would bear the brunt of shrinking birth rates.
