'School merger scheme to launch as soon as next year'

Education secretary Christine Choi announced plans to launch a school merger scheme next year in a bid to improve education in the city amid a declining student population. The "Confluence and Elevation – School Excellence Project" will be introduced in the 2027/28 academic year at the earliest, according to Choi's presentation on the city's five-year plan and Policy Address on an RTHK radio show.

The primary goal of the scheme is to encourage public-funded primary and secondary schools to pool their resources, rather than resorting to a merger only during crises or when faced with zero class allocations. Choi emphasized that the government would be selective in choosing which schools to merge, particularly when it comes to schools with unique characteristics.

Aided schools can merge with Direct Subsidy Scheme schools, but not with government schools, as teachers at government schools are civil servants, and mergers between such institutions may result in minor issues. Following a merger, the two schools might retain both campuses during the transition period, and the education bureau will provide resources to assist teaching staff if there is a surplus.