An order to exempt private schools offering non-formal curriculum from certain requirements stipulated in the Education Ordinance will start July 1.

The Education & Manpower Bureau says the Education (Exemption) (Private Schools Offering Non-formal Curriculum) Order aims to cater for the needs of the changing social environment and the public.

The exemption order covers private schools offering educational courses such as tutorial, commercial, language and computer courses. The exemptions are related to the categories of holidays, hours of instruction and administrative procedures for processing fee collection and employment of teachers and principals.

Instruction hours relaxed

To support adults pursuing life-long learning and students taking part in diversified learning programmes, the limit of instruction hours for exempted private schools will be relaxed beyond 9.30pm. The schools will also be exempted from restrictions on holidays.

The exemption order also waives a number of administrative procedures for exempted schools. However, the provisions on school registration and safety requirements to ensure student safety, and on registration of supervisors and managers have been retained to ensure proper management.

On fee collection, exempted schools will no longer need to seek approval provided that, among other conditions, the course fee is collected on an equal monthly basis. Applications for employing permitted teachers, except for those supervising practical experiments and activities or teaching physical education, and for appointing a teacher as the principal will also be waived.

Schools fail to comply with order may face prosecution

If an exempted school fails to comply with any conditions of a particular category specified in the exemption order, it is not entitled to the exemptions granted under the category concerned.

In that case, the school is then obliged to comply with those exempt provisions of that particular category. Otherwise, it may be prosecuted or have the registration of the managers or school cancelled.

For details of the exemption order, click here.

School selection tips

When choosing private schools:

* choose those registered or provisionally registered with the bureau;

* read carefully the information contained in the course leaflet provided by a school before enrolling for a course;

* pay attention to the course fee information;

* pay course fees on a monthly basis;

* retain the formal receipt;

* select a school with safe learning environment; and,

* choose the appropriate course date and time.