Number of Hong Kong students in international schools triples in 11 years as non-local enrollment decreases

The number of non-local students in Hong Kong has seen a significant decline in recent years, dropping from 30,259 in the 2013-14 school year to 27,390 in the current one. On the other hand, the number of local students attending international schools has tripled from 5,321 to 14,684.

Education minister Christine Choi Yuk-lin addressed the reasons behind this shift, stating that Hong Kong parents choose international schools for various reasons, including their children’s personalities and future study plans. She dismissed the notion that parents avoid local schools due to the emphasis on national education and security.

Choi highlighted the positive response to government-funded exchange tours to mainland China for secondary pupils, which replaced liberal studies after social unrest in 2019. Lawmaker Chu Kwok-keung attributed the decline in non-local students to the relocation of international companies and pandemic-related travel restrictions.

The English Schools Foundation (ESF), the largest international school group in Hong Kong, noted a rise in local students and a decrease in other nationalities. The ESF and other foreign education institutions faced consequences for failing to admit the required number of non-local students.

Despite the changing demographics, the ESF spokesman emphasized the group’s commitment to maintaining a balance of local and non-local students. Minister Choi affirmed the importance of international schools in attracting talent and foreign investment to the city.

As the education landscape in Hong Kong continues to evolve, the government aims to support the coexistence of local and non-local students in international schools for the benefit of the city’s development.