Conclusion of ESF Subvention

The Chairman of ESF sent out of an email detailing the final review of the ESF Subvention.

• recurrent subvention, frozen at the current level, will remain in place for three school years from 2013-14 to 2015-16 inclusive; from August 2016, subvention will be phased out year by year, over 13 years, so that the last year group to qualify will be that which graduates in 2028-29;

• Government subvention for Jockey Club Sarah Roe School (JCSRS) and for the Learning Support Centres (LSCs) (a total of HK$28.3 million per year) will be maintained at the existing level, pending a wider Government review of support for students with special educational needs in Hong Kong;

• subject to approval by the Finance Committee of LegCo, a capital grant will be made available to assist in funding the re-building of Island School. The capital grant will be equal to 100% of the cost of constructing a standard design public sector school educating the same number of students. At today’s prices this would be HK$270 million. After the re-development of Island School, ESF, like all international schools in Hong Kong, will not be entitled to any financial support except for an interest-free loan for construction of a school on an allocated green-field site.

Children born from 2011 onwards entering the ESF system from 2016 will not receive the subsidy and can be expected to pay 23% more than the subsidized equivalent.

Two meetings have been arranged by the ESF board for parents to voice their views. Meeting details can be found here http://hongkong.geoschools.com/forum/15/thread4822.html

Heather Du Quesnay, Chief Executive, ESF was on the radio this morning.

You can listen to the program here:


Radio Television Hong Kong