{
  "id": 14207333,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-13T13:14:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "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 issued new guidelines stating that schools should refrain from requiring students with special educational needs or severe mental illness to repeat a grade. The revised School Administration Guide, updated in August, warns that such practice could exacerbate the students' social and emotional adjustment difficulties and heighten mental health risks.\n\nWhen considering grade retention for students with special educational needs (SEN), schools must consult a team of professionals, which includes an educational psychologist, the school's student support team, teachers, and psychiatrists when necessary. The guide advises schools to provide individualized support measures for SEN students as an alternative to grade retention.\n\nThe Bureau of Education emphasizes that schools should not view grade repetition as the only solution for student learning or a punitive measure. The recommended repetition rate for primary schools should not exceed 3% of total enrolment, while for secondary schools, it should not exceed 5%. Students may only repeat a grade once during their six years of primary education, and they are not allowed to repeat Primary 6.\n\nThe guidelines aim to encourage a more cautious approach to grade retention, particularly for SEN students. Experts argue that each case should be assessed holistically based on the student's needs, suitability, and learning circumstances. While the guidelines do not completely ban grade retention for SEN students, they urge schools to adopt a more comprehensive assessment process.\n\nSchools are encouraged to offer tailored support measures for individual SEN students, such as allowing them to drop elective subjects or switch to different courses. The new guidelines are seen as a positive step, as they acknowledge the varying learning needs of students with special educational needs.",
  "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": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post - Hong Kong",
        "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",
        "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."
}