Key facts
- Hong Kong's Education Bureau approved average tuition fee hikes of 4.75% for private schools, 4.07% for semi-private schools, and 4% for international schools for the 2026-27 academic year.
- The Education Bureau received applications from 185 schools for fee adjustments.
- The Hong Kong Office of the Ombudsman is investigating the Education Bureau's approval mechanism for school fee revisions.
- Some international schools are proposing fee increases of over 20%, with the English Schools Foundation (ESF) proposing a more than 20% increase for its primary schools.
- Concerns have been raised that the bureau's approval system is lax and lacks transparency, potentially causing financial pressure for parents.
Hong Kong's Education Bureau has granted approval for tuition fee increases across various school types for the 2026-27 academic year. Private schools will see an average hike of 4.75%, semi-private schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) 4.07%, and international schools 4%. These decisions come as the Office of the Ombudsman is conducting an investigation into the bureau's processes for approving such revisions, citing concerns about laxity and a lack of transparency.
The bureau received applications from 185 schools, including 49 DSS schools, 74 private schools, and 62 international schools. Reports indicate that some international schools are now charging over HK$240,000 (approximately $30,770) annually, with an average increase of 4.8% noted in some reports. The English Schools Foundation (ESF), which operates 22 branches, is proposing an increase exceeding 20% for its primary schools, attributing this to the loss of a significant government subsidy.
Ombudsman Connie Lau Yin-hing expressed concern that schools can "easily obtain the approval" despite an evaluation system, potentially leading to unreasonable year-on-year fee hikes that burden parents. The investigation by the Ombudsman's office specifically targets the Education Bureau's criteria and procedures for approving fee revisions and the overall regulatory system for school fees. Local media commentators have suggested that schools are incentivized to charge higher fees when subsidies are still available under relaxed DSS regulations. Chow King-lun, Convener of the Hong Kong Parent League, recommended that schools provide parents with six-year estimates of fee increases to manage financial planning.