'Lower Student Number May Make More Schools Merge'

The Education Bureau approved the merging of two secondary schools operated by the Caritas Hong Kong, with one of them to relocate from Southern District to Tung Chung.

The Caritas Charles Vath College in Tung Chung and the Caritas Wu Cheng-Chung Secondary School in Southern District will merge from the 2024-25 academic year, and the Caritas Wu Cheng-Chung Secondary School will be relocated to Tung Chung.

Education minister Christine Choi on Saturday said the declining student population means that more schools may be under-enrolled.

"We have been communicating with different school-sponsoring bodies, with schools that may have a risk under the declining student population," she told reporters after attending a radio programme.

She added: "We know that the school has close contact with the parents and students to make the necessary support for them."

The Education Bureau said coaches will pick up and drop off students in Tung Chung and Hong Kong Island, but it will also try to arrange a school for those who are unwilling to move to Tung Chung.

Choi said she appreciates the body's decision to merge the two schools, describing it as a "prophetic vision", and her bureau will continue find solutions with schools to minimise the impact on students.