{
  "id": 14204025,
  "title": "Schools urged not to make pupils with special educational needs repeat grades",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/schools-urged-not-to-make-pupils-with-special-educational-needs",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T13:14:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post - Hong Kong",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post-hong-kong",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3370771/schools-urged-not-make-pupils-special-educational-needs-repeat-grades"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hong Kong's education authorities have advised schools against requiring students with special educational needs or severe mental illness to repeat a grade. The revised School Administration Guide warns that this practice could worsen their adjustment difficulties and mental health risks. The updated guide, issued in August, requires schools to consult a team of professionals, including educational psychologists, psychiatrists, and the school’s student support team, before considering grade retention. Schools should explore alternative support measures tailored to the individual student's needs, such as additional time, switching to different subjects, or reducing elective courses. The guide emphasizes that grade retention should not be the sole method to assist student learning and should not be used as a punitive measure. It also advises schools to avoid high repetition rates, with primary schools not exceeding 3% and secondary schools 5% of total enrolment. The primary school's overall repetition rate should not exceed 3 percent of total enrolment, while the rate for secondary schools should not exceed 5 percent. Principals and school heads agree that each case must be assessed holistically, considering academic performance, conduct, learning attitude, extracurricular participation, other learning needs, and parental wishes.",
  "summary": "Hong Kong schools should not require students with special educational needs or severe mental illness to repeat a grade, under revised education authorities’ guidance that warns the practice could worsen their adjustment difficulties. The latest version of the Education Bureau’s School Administration Guide requires subsidised schools considering grade retention for pupils with special educational…",
  "key_points": [
    "Hong Kong schools advised against grade retention for students with special needs.",
    "Revised guide requires professional consultation before retention decision.",
    "Maximum 3% repetition rate for primary schools, 5% for secondary schools."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Schools urged not to make pupils with special educational needs repeat grades",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/13/schools-urged-not-to-make-pupils-with-special-educational-needs-14207333",
        "published": "2026-10-13T13:14:10.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}