Over seventy-four percent of Hong Kong's secondary school students secured their preferred school selection.
In a significant development, this year has seen a record high of 74% of Primary Six pupils in Hong Kong being assigned to their first choice secondary school, marking the highest successful allocation rate since the revamped system was implemented in 2007. This increase comes amidst a decreasing number of participants in the system, with a drop of 3,382 pupils or 6.6% compared to last year, making a total of 48,011 participants this year.
The secondary school places allocation system in Hong Kong operates in two stages. The first stage is based on discretionary factors such as academic and interview performance, while the second stage is a computerized lottery system that prioritizes those who have not been allocated a school place through the first stage. Results for the first stage of the allocation process are released in March.
The key factors contributing to these trends include demographic shifts, policy changes by the Education Bureau, and resource optimization measures. The Education Bureau estimates that the number of Form One students will drop significantly—from 58,800 in 2025 to 49,800 by 2031. This shrinking pupil base is a primary driver for the decreased number of secondary school places allocated centrally.
To address efficiency amid falling student numbers, the Bureau now applies a higher threshold when approving applications for additional Form One classes. Schools failing to meet a two-class minimum must submit survival plans, effectively limiting the expansion of class intake and influencing the allocation process.
Public primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong are facing a 10% funding reduction, framed as resource optimization rather than cuts. This financial tightening encourages schools to operate more efficiently with fewer students, constraining the capacity and affecting allocation rates.
The central allocation system uses a computerized procedure based on students' academic merit, standardized scores, and parental preferences to assign S4 places. This mechanism ensures a data-driven, merit-based distribution of fewer places that correspond with the declining student population.
It is important to note that most of the pupils participating in the system this year were born in 2013, a year that saw a nearly 40% reduction in births due to former chief executive Leung Chun-ying's imposition of a ban on pregnant Chinese women without a husband from Hong Kong giving birth in the city's hospitals. This demographic shift could also be contributing to the changes observed in the allocation system.
The percentage of pupils who were allocated their top three choices also reached a record high of 91%, further demonstrating the effectiveness of the system in meeting the preferences of the students. Despite the decreasing number of participants, the system continues to function efficiently, ensuring that the majority of students are able to secure their preferred secondary school placements.
- The record high of 74% primary school pupils being assigned to their first choice secondary school, despite a decreasing number of participants in the system, showcases the efficiency of the education-and-self-development sector in Hong Kong, given the general news of an increasingly competitive landscape.
- The Education Bureau's resource optimization measures, such as the 10% funding reduction for public schools, have influenced the education landscape, leading to a decline in the number of allocated central secondary school places and making the competitive general news all the more significant.
