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ESF spells out that fees will increase
From SCMP today:
Increases in fees for English Schools Foundation schools are inevitable, according to a document released by the foundation yesterday.
Currently, ESF fees are among the cheapest in the international sector. But in the consultation for a business plan, The Way Forward, sent to staff and parents yesterday, chief executive Heather Du Quesnay said fees "should not rise above the mid-point range of international schools" to remain affordable to middle class parents. They could stay at a lower level if the ESF retained its government subvention.
Fees across the international sector range from $47,000 to $133,500 a year at primary and between $70,000 and $152,800 at secondary. ESF fees are $51,500 a primary and $82,600 at secondary.
"A modest increase in fees is inevitable if we are to guarantee the standards and quality of education," the document says.
However, Ms Du Quesnay denied there were plans for immediate or dramatic increases that a mid-point figure could suggest.
At secondary level, fees were already similar to competing schools, such as French international.
The document says the foundation will "argue vigorously" to retain the subvention. "However, we shall also take steps to ensure that ESF can weather the removal of the subvention if that is forced upon us," Ms Du Quesnay wrote.
The document says ESF education should be both more international - with the launch of the International Baccalaureate diploma and interest in the primary and middle years programmes - and local, with greater emphasis on Chinese language and local content in the curriculum.
The ESF should remain committed to providing for special educational needs, but Ms Du Quesnay made it clear it could not cater for all English-speaking children with special needs. "We regret the lack of a planned system in Hong Kong for English-speaking students with special education needs," she wrote.
The document spells out how the ESF can expand its business, by extending educational services in Hong Kong, opening more kindergartens and exploring the option of offering boarding places to overseas students.
Alex Chiu Chi-suen, member of the action group Parents for ESF, said fees should not be compared with other international schools, because the ESF had to cater for the less well-off needing English education.
"I am not convinced rises in fees are inevitable because there were large increases in September and cost savings as a result of the pay cut for teachers," he said.
The ESF has organised three public meetings to discuss the document, the first at King George V School next Wednesday evening.
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