The requirement for primary schools to admit a minimum of 23 students to operate a subsidised Primary One class aims at better use of resources and will not be changed, the Education & Manpower Bureau says.

Speaking on a radio talk show, Principal Assistant Secretary for Education & Manpower Betty Ip said nine primary schools have failed to meet the requirement in the coming school year, due to parents' choices.

She pointed out there are about 51,000 P1 students for the coming school year, about 2,000 more than the current year. The number of classes will also increase, to 66.

Letters on next school year's class structure have been sent to schools. They may approach the bureau within two weeks to raise special circumstances that may justify continuation of the school.

On P1 places in Sha Tin, Mrs Ip said the three primary schools completed in 2000 mainly cater for students affected by the conversion of bi-sessional schools to whole-day ones, adding there is no change in the number of P1 places in the district.

The district will see five more P1 classes operated in the coming school year, though several schools in the district have failed to admit a minimum of 23 students for operating a subsidised P1 class, she added.