{
  "id": 11355476,
  "title": "'DSS school fee rises to help with resources'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/dss-school-fee-rises-to-help-with-resources",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T04:26:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTHK English",
    "slug": "rthk-english",
    "url": "https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1872393-20261002.htm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The city's Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools have increased their tuition fees by up to 25 percent for the new academic year, according to Dion Chen, vice-chairman of the DSS Schools Council. This fee hike is necessary to counter growing operating costs, inflation, and the need for modern teaching strategies, Chen explained during an interview on RTHK. Schools factor in various elements, such as rising expenses and the push towards advanced technologies like AI and STEM, when determining the appropriate fee increase, he added.\n\nThe Education Bureau has announced that funding for DSS schools will be cut for three consecutive school years, leaving these institutions to explore alternative methods to supplement their resources. Chen highlighted that allowing DSS schools to admit more non-local students on a self-financing basis could help alleviate some of their financial strain.",
  "summary": "An education representative said amid growing operating costs and evolving teaching needs, higher fees are needed at the city's direct subsidy schools to supplement their resources. Dion Chen, vice-chairman of the Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) Schools Council, made the remarks after about 50 DSS schools raised fees by between 1.9 percent and 25 percent in the new academic year. Speaking on RTHK, he…",
  "key_points": [
    "DSS school fees rise up to 25% for new academic year",
    "Funding cuts for DSS schools over three school years",
    "Admitting non-local students may help alleviate financial strain"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The fee hike in DSS schools signals a shift in financial strategy as institutions seek to offset reduced government funding and rising operating costs through increased tuition.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "RTHK News",
        "title": "'DSS school fee rises to help with resources'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/dss-school-fee-rises-to-help-with-resources-11356411",
        "published": "2026-10-02T04:26:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}