Fewer parents headed to elite secondary schools to hand in application forms for discretionary places allocation, as families contemplate emigration.
Schools began receiving application forms for secondary one discretionary places allocation on Monday. But a mere handful of hopeful parents showed up on Queen’s College’s doorstep to submit applications.
Queen’s College, Hong Kong’s oldest Government secondary school, saw a student dropout rate of nearly six percent in the last school year – twice as many as in the 2019/20 academic year.
Mrs Yau, one of the parents who submitted an application, said that her son has decent academic results. She believed that amid the emigration wave, her son will have a better chance at getting into the school.
She noted that emigration is a possibility for her family, but for now, she hopes to spend more time with her son. After his junior secondary years, they might consider moving somewhere with a more stable political environment.
Another Mrs Tang agreed that emigration reduces the competition for children to get into top schools. But another mother believes competition would remain fierce. .
Secondary school places allocation comprises two stages: allocation of discretionary places and central allocation.
Schools can admit students via discretionary places allocation based on academic performance as well as factors including religious affiliation and parents’ alumni status. Those who do not get any discretionary places can continue to join the central allocation.
Besides Queen’s College, other eite schools such as St. Paul's Co-educational College and Heep Yunn School also saw record dropout rates over the past year.
