Finding the right school for your child in Hong Kong

AN OVERVIEW OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN HONG KONG

The educational system in Hong Kong is regulated by the Education Bureau (EDB), a department of the Hong Kong SAR Government. It reviews, develops and formulates legislation and programmes for education from kindergarten to tertiary level. The EDB also implements training programmes for teachers and develops curriculum frameworks. All schools in Hong Kong must be approved and licensed by the EDB, including privately funded institutions. The main EDB website page for parents can be accessed here while the section on international schools can be viewed here.

The range of schools in Hong Kong is extremely broad, and includes fully maintained government schools; aided public schools run by charitable or religious organisations; partially independent Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools which are subsidised by the Hong Kong government; and privately funded schools, notably the international schools. Across the board, academic attainment is typically high as reflected for instance in Hong Kong’s ranking in the international PISA tests. All schools teach Chinese to various levels: in some, it is the main medium of instruction while in others it is offered at different standards for native and non-native speakers. English is the main language of instruction for most privately funded schools and also for some of the government-supported schools, notably of course those offering IGCSEs and the IB Diploma.

Fully maintained government schools follow the syllabus leading to the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE), a qualification which requires exam passes in six subjects including Maths, Chinese, English and Citizenship and Social Development, plus two elective subjects. The standard is similar to that of that of the IB Diploma or UK A levels. This exam is taken after six years of secondary education. Some DSS schools also offer the HKDSE, while others provide a choice in senior years of either the HKDSE or the IB Diploma/ UK A levels. Almost all privately funded schools offer an international curriculum leading to, for instance, the IB Diploma or UK A levels as their graduation qualification. Some international schools offer curricula approved by education departments of overseas governments, as for example in the cases of the French International School and the Hong Kong Japan School.

Obviously all these different types of schools vary significantly in terms of entrance requirements and fees so parents need to do their research carefully. Further details can be found on other pages of the ITS Education Asia website, and our Schools Placement Team will be very happy to advise on choosing a school for your child.