Private school applications drop by half
The number of applications for admission into private primary schools has dropped nearly by half from last year after authorities introduced new regulations this year.
This year, private schools received only 19,900 applications compared to 37,400 last year. The enrollment ratio is also going to drop from 3:1 to 1.4:1.
The Education Commission said parents were thinking “more rationally” now about choosing schools for their children.
One of the important measures that was introduced in March was the need for both private and public schools to carry out the admission procedures at the same time.
Another measure that forced parents to rethink about public schools was the higher enrolment quotas for top public high schools.
“Under the new policy, public school students will have more chances to attend top high schools in the city,” said Mable Chen, a mother of a 6-year-old girl.
“I think it’s also a signal that the government will give more support to public schools in the city,” she said.
The commission said that a program urging top schools to help other schools improve their education quality by sending teachers also helped.