Education Bureau 'closely monitoring textbook prices'

Education officials are keeping a close eye on textbook costs, with figures indicating a 3.6 percent rise for the forthcoming academic year. Christine Choi, Secretary for Education, commented on this increase following a newspaper report that a secondary school student's full set of books could amount to up to HK$7,000. The Education Bureau provides a textbook subsidy to assist financially disadvantaged families, but Choi declined to lower the eligibility criteria or reinstate the non-means-tested HK$2,500 student grant that was abolished for the 2025-26 school year.

She emphasized the importance of providing targeted aid to those genuinely in need due to limited resources. Choi clarified that the universal HK$2,500 grant, introduced in 2019 during the Covid-19 pandemic as a temporary measure, should return to its original form. The bureau has been in regular contact with publishers and has consistently urged them to keep prices affordable.

Regarding teacher employment, Choi reported that 90 percent of this year's teaching graduates have found jobs, with the remainder opting for further education. Some graduates are now serving as teaching assistants, a role that does not require a teaching license. Additionally, Choi highlighted that over 10,000 applications have been submitted for the city's Study Tour in Hong Kong program, which offers exchange opportunities for students from mainland China and overseas.