[Archive] Reduction in number of classes

Date of sitting: 30 October 2002

Asked by: Hon. CHEUNG Man-kwong

Replied by: SCS

Question:

As there has been a decreasing trend in the number of school-age children in recent years, some schools have to reduce their classes due to insufficient intakes, resulting in a surplus of permanent teachers in the establishment. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

1. of the respective numbers of government and subvented primary and secondary schools and special schools whose classes were reduced resulting in a surplus of teachers in each of the past three school years, together with the numbers of these schools by school districts;
   
   
2. of the respective numbers of surplus primary school teachers who were provided with vocational counselling by the Education Department in each of the past three school years, with a breakdown by the subjects they used to teach and their years of service at the time they became surplus teachers;
   
   
3. of the following figures, based on the latest population projections in various districts, in each of the next three school years in every school district:
   
   
   1. the numbers of students in each grade from Primary One to Secondary Seven;
      
      
   2. the estimated numbers of classes to be reduced and surplus teachers; and
      
      
   3. the number of government and subvented primary and secondary schools and special schools affected; and
      
      
4. whether it has assessed if the problem of surplus teachers will aggravate; if it will, of the measures to provide proper and equitable arrangements for the employment of the surplus teachers?
   
   

Reply:

Madam President:

1. Statistics of primary, secondary and special schools in the government and aided sectors, which have experienced reduction of classes due to movement of population, lowering of the birth rate, parental choices etc, in the past 3 years, is at Appendix I.
   
   
2. Statistics of the subjects taught and the years of experience of the redundant teachers who have taken the placement service provided by the Education Department in the past 3 years is at Appendix II.
   
   
3. 
   

   i.	In the coming 3 years, the projected distributions of primary school age children (6 to 11) breakdown by district and school age are at Appendix III. The projected distribution of secondary school age children (12 to 18) by school age is at Appendix IV. As the planning of secondary school places is on a territory-wide basis, the projected distribution of secondary school age children by district is not available.
   ii. & iii.	The situation of reduction of primary classes and the number of redundant teachers in different districts depend on a number of factors including the number of school age children, school facilities and parental choices. Overall speaking, as the number of secondary school age children is in an upward trend, there will be an increase in the total number of secondary classes.

   
   
4. The actual number of redundant teachers of each year will be determined by factors such as the number of classes of individual schools to be operated for the next school year, the wastage of the serving teachers etc. The Education Department is now reviewing the placement service. It is expected that detailed arrangement can be worked out in early 2003.
   
   

Number of Schools with Reduction of Classes in the Past 3 Years

Statistics of Redundant Teachers in Aided Primary School
Having Taken the Placement Service

Statistics of Redundant Teachers in Aided Primary School
Having Taken the Placement Service

Annex 4

Projected Distribution of Secondary School Age Population
(Aged 12 - 18), 2003 - 2005