To enhance education quality and cost-effectiveness, the Education & Manpower Bureau will close 10-plus schools which are seriously under-utilised and of high operating cost, by September. They include Kin Tak Public School.

The move is in response to Audit Commission recommendations on the surplus of primary school places.

The bureau said the declining enrolment and sub-standard facilities of the school will inevitably undermine students' social development and the provision of quality education.

It said it was offering assistance to help the parents concerned to transfer their children to other schools in the same district.

Noting the feelings and pleas of teachers, students and their parents, the bureau said its officers have explained to the school and to parents the reasons and arrangements for the facility's closure.

Owing to the declining student population and parental choice of schools, a handful of schools have seen a significant drop in enrolment. These schools do not have support like native-speaking English teachers, as ordinary schools do.

Most of them have to adopt combined classes and do not have sufficient school facilities.

Kin Tak Public School ceased Primary One classes in the 2002/03 school year. It now has 37 students in three classes - one combined class for Primary Three and Four students, one Primary Five class and one Primary Six class. On completion of the 2003/04 school year, only 20 students will be left.

Since combined classes and the continued fall in teacher and student numbers will not be good for the students, the bureau calls on parents to transfer their children to other better-equipped schools in the same district as soon as possible.