Four primary schools to close by 2029-30

Four primary schools will gradually end their operations and close by the 2029-30 academic year, the Education Bureau (EDB) said on Wednesday. They are among a record 15 schools that have been banned from operating a primary one class in the upcoming academic year after failing to recruit the minimum threshold of 16 pupils. Aside from these four schools that plan to close, nine others will merge with other institutions, while one has opted to go private. These were the three options offered by the EDB to schools with low enrolment. Meanwhile, the bureau said the last school would not have to choose from the three options this academic year, even though it did not meet the threshold. The development follows a recent policy shift aimed at encouraging schools to merge. Under new rules announced last month, if two schools merge, they will get a one-year grace period within the next three years. During that year, they will not be required to close. However, if enrolment remains insufficient the following year, the institution will will have to make one of the three options again. According to the EDB, one of the 15 schools had already merged with another in the 2024-25 academic year. The bureau said the schools that have applied to merge will need to submit a detailed proposal by the end of the month. Edited by Aaron Tam