From International Primary School to Primary One Places Allocation Scheme?

choiming

Hi

Please help.

My daughter is now studying in an International Kindergarten. Since she was born in March 2002, she will need to join an International Primary School in September 2007, after she reaches the age of 5. Nonetheless, she is not eligible for the Primary One Places Allocation Scheme in 2007, since she will be smaller than 5 years 8 months by Sept 2007. We have not yet made up our mind whether I would like to let her studying for an International Primary School or local school. To reserve the chance, indeed I would like to try applying for some famous schools when she is eligible to apply.

I note that Children who are studying at a government, aided, DSS or private primary school are not eligible for participating in the Primary One Admission System. Thus I would like to ask:

1/ Will the fact that she has to be promoted to an International Primary School (in 2007) due to her age precludes her from participating in the Allocation Scheme (to join school at September 2008, when she is eligible for joining the Allocation Scheme)?

2/ Will there be any difference if she joins Phoenix or other International Primary School instead of ESF's Junior School?

3/ Are ESF's junior school regarded as an aided, DSS or Private Primary School?

4/ Is she eligible for applying places in Direct Subsidy Scheme Primary Schools? to join in 2006 or 2007?

Many thanks.

WYmom

Don't see that there is any problem for your kid to apply primary schools (subsidized or DSS) for P.1 08/09. My kid is born in Feb 02 and I may consider to send her to Int'l primary in 07 as well.  I believe there is more problem for the kid if you send her to P.1 of Int'l school in 07 and then switch her to P.1 of another school in 08 as she needs to adapt to 2 different schools and seems to repeat P.1.  So I think it is better to determine which type of primary school you prefer beforehand.

precious

The following is extracted from EMB FAQ about Central Allocation.  Please see point (c).

Primary One Admission (POA) System 2005:

(1) Who are eligible for participation in POA 2005?

To be eligible for participation in POA 2005, a child must

(a) reach the age of 5 years 8 months when he/she is enrolled in P1 in September 2005 (i.e. born on or before 31 December 1999);
(b) be a Hong Kong belonging child;
(c) not be attending any primary schools; and
(d) have never been allocated a P1 place.

More info, please go to:

http://www.emb.gov.hk/FileManager/EN/Content_1511/choice-exercise%20engweb%20final.pdf

precious

Information Leaflet on <rimary One Admission (POA) System>
Note: (2) Children who have been allocated a P1 place previously, and pupils who are studying at a government, aided, DSS or private primary school are not eligible for participating in the Primary One Admission System.

Source:
http://www.emb.gov.hk/FileManager/EN/Content_1511/emb-lft-e.pdf

*****

I do not want to discourage but the fact (regulation) underlying is negative.   We have the same inquiry to EMB before and the answer is negative too.

Good luck.

precious

Kareese,

Thanks for your information.  Since we have a similar situation, so we checked again with the officer.  She explained but it was not likely relating to main stream or non-main stream curriculum.

She said it will highly depend on the age of the children.  Like the case of Choi Ming, her daughter is smaller than 5 years 8 months by Sept 2007, she is not eligible to apply POA Scheme in 2007.  She will need to make the choice either to promote to P.1 of the International School or apply K3 in local kindergarten.  If they choose to go to P.1, under existing policy, the kid can be eligible to apply POA scheme in 2008.  This is considered as 行駛酌情權 because of the grey zone, and is subject to evaluate on case by case basis.

In other words, if the kids who are old enough to join the scheme, they cannot attend any Primary 1 (even an international school) first and join the scheme next year.

The officer remind us that the policy about the 酌情權 may change, so she highly recommended us to call them again when the kids is about the age.

I believe that different people may interpret differently on rules that covered in the grey zone.  Whether your version or our version, or even our previous version was correct or not, nobody can be assured. Information may just good enough to share and for reference only.  Good Luck then.

BKU

我識幾個人都是孩子讀了ESF P.1後參加政府泒位的，４個抽到合心水的便讀番local school，2個抽得唔好的就繼續留在原校，聽講好多人都係咁做，不過如precious所講，越來越多人咁做的話，以後可能無呢枝歌仔唱了。

choiming

Thanks for all your help. I have just got a reply from EMB:

I refer to your email dated 21 February 2005.

Under normal circumstances, children who are attending any primary schools are not eligible to participate in Primary One Admission.  However, special consideration will be given on an individual basis.  For your case, please contact me at 2832 7611 or inform me of your contact telephone number so that I can gather more information about your case.

Yours sincerely,
(Mrs Katrina WONG)
for Secretary for Education and Manpower