Hong Kong's low birth rate and a sharp reduction in the arrival of Mainland children have contributed to under-enrolment in primary one classes, the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Education & Manpower says.

Cheng Yan Chee said there will be 5,500 fewer primary one students this September than last year. As a result, 160 classes in 31 schools are being affected and cannot be continued.

Speaking on Metro Radio this morning, he pointed out that the number of Mainland children coming to Hong Kong has drastically dipped, to 7,000 last year from 17,000 in 1998.

Hong Kong's birth rate is the lowest in the world and this downward trend is expected to continue.

He believed some of the under-enrolled schools would have even fewer students in the near future, noting that some of these schools' unpopularity among parents has caused a drop in enrolment.  

Bureau to meet principals to discuss options 

The bureau is meeting principals from the 31 affected primary schools today to discuss alternative ways of running the schools, including merging with other primary schools and conducting special inspections of some to decide their eligibility for resuming primary one classes.

Seven of the affected half-day schools will be merged with full-day primary schools.

Mr Cheng stressed that he understood the feelings of affected schools and parents, and said that these schools will still operate for few more years and existing students will not be affected.

On remarks that the bureau still builds new schools, he replied that such schools will mainly be used for converting half-day schools to full-day schools, as well as to replace old schools. 

Small-class teaching trial to launch

Mr Cheng reiterated that the bureau will launch a trial scheme to run small-class teaching in 40 primary schools.